The County Government of Kisumu has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SNV- a Netherlands Development Organisation to accelerate climate action, food security, renewable energy and enterprise development.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Mathew Owili, formalized the partnership on Monday at his office in Kisumu alongside SNV Country Director for Kenya and Burundi, Rebecca Hallam, describing the agreement as a critical step in bridging resource gaps facing the devolved unit.
Dr. Owili said the partnership will support core county functions as outlined in the Constitution, particularly in agriculture, trade development, water and energy.
“We have just signed an MoU in areas such as agri-food systems, climate change, water, gender equality and social inclusion — areas that are natural functions of county governments,” he said.
He noted that the shareable revenue from the national government and locally generated revenue were often insufficient to meet key development obligations.
“What county governments get in terms of shareable revenue and own-source revenue may not be sufficient to handle critical deliverables such as food security, nurturing businesses from small to medium and large enterprises, and matters of renewable energy. That gap exists not only in Kisumu but across counties. We must work with partners to bridge it,” he added.
Under the framework, technical teams drawn from the Departments of Trade and Tourism, Agriculture and Energy will work jointly with SNV to implement targeted programmes, including MSME policy development, legislative drafting, public participation, monitoring and gender mainstreaming.
The deputy governor said the MoU builds on existing collaboration between the county and SNV, which has been implementing several programmes in Kisumu.
Among the initiatives are Investments in Young Businesses in Africa (IYBA-SEED), Engaging Kenyan Youth in Agriculture and Nutrition (EKYAN), and Veggies 4 Planet and People (V4P&P).
The programmes, he said, have supported youth- and women-led enterprises, expanded agribusiness opportunities and promoted climate-smart circular agriculture while creating green jobs.
Dr. Owili added that the collaboration was expected to unlock new opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises, strengthen policy frameworks and enhance sustainable resource management, positioning Kisumu as a regional hub for climate-smart agriculture and green energy innovation.
Speaking during the same occasion, SNV Country Director for Kenya and Burundi, Rebecca Hallam, said the agreement signals a deeper, more structured partnership focused on sustainable development.
“We are very happy to sign this MoU which represents our commitment to working closely with the county government for sustainable development,” she said.
SNV, a global development organisation that has operated in Kenya for decades, she said, focuses on transforming agri-food systems, water systems and renewable energy.
“These are critical areas for the vision the county government has for Kisumu. This MoU represents our intentionality of working extremely closely with the county technical teams for the benefit of all who live in Kisumu,” Hallam added.
She said the organisation was particularly keen on strengthening the nexus between renewable energy and agriculture to enhance farmers’ resilience in the face of climate change.
“SNV delights in the nexus between energy and agriculture, particularly renewable energy. We are looking at how we can support farmers with new agricultural practices and renewable energy solutions that build resilience to the climate change we are experiencing here and in many other parts of the country,” she said.
The partnership, she added, will prioritise key value chains identified jointly by SNV and the county government, including poultry, dairy and aquaculture, sectors considered strategic for Kisumu’s economic growth and food security.
By Chris Mahandara
