PETER ANYANG NYONG’O, GOUVERNEUR DU KIMUSU – KENYA
Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o is the Governor of Kisumu County in the Republic of Kenya since August, 2017 and the Chairperson of Lands, Housing & Urban Development Committee at the Council of Governors where tremendous progress has been witnessed under his leadership in the sectors, particularly in the areas of urban infrastructure financing, strengthen of county urban institutions to deliver improved infrastructure and services and as well as mainstreaming processes and procedures for preparation and implementation of county plans. In his first term he also served as the Chairperson of Health Committee at the Council of Governors where he introduced reforms in the health sector, particularly in the areas of service delivery, human resources, infrastructure, and health financing to meet the constitutional requirement of accessible and affordable healthcare.
Immediately after his election as the Governor, Prof Nyong’o came up with a new urban spatial planning strategy to transform the county and promote economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability and resilience in partnership with the national government and other development partners. This transformation has seen initiation of various development projects to rebuild the county after decades of neglect and marginalization. In revitalizing primary healthcare, the Governor has given special attention to Community Health Services as one of the pillars of Primary Health Care as the county strives towards achieving Universal Health Coverage. The Governor has also introduced a County Health Insurance Scheme to provide social health insurance cover to all vulnerable households in Kisumu.
He served as a Member of National Assembly representing Kisumu Rural for 20 years and later became Kisumu County’s first Senator in 2013. He has also served in the national government as a Cabinet Minister for Economic Planning and National Development between 2003 and 2005 and later on as a Cabinet Minister for Medical Services between 2008 and 2013.
As the minister for Planning & National Development, he initiated the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERS) for Kenya in 2003 when he observed that Kenya was a nation of great potential but a disappointing underachiever. With the support of the development partners Kenya managed to grow its national economy from 0.2% annual growth in 2003 to 7% by 2007. He also came up with strategies to revamp the National Health Insurance Fund scheme to expand cover to both in-patient and out-patient when he was the Minister for Medical Services. Despite stiff opposition from some quarters, the scheme is now providing affordable medical assistance to Kenyans.
Prof. Nyong’o holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Chicago and taught at the University of Nairobi (1977-81), El Colegio de Mexico (1971-84) and Addis Ababa University (1984-86) before joining the African Academy of Sciences as Head of Programs from 1987 to 1992.
He has published several books and articles on democracy, democratisation, the state and the political economy of development in Africa. Among the publications are “Popular Struggles for Democracy in Africa”, (London: Zed Books, 1987); “The Study of African Politics: A Critical Appreciation of A Heritage” (Nairobi: Ball Foundation, 2002); “A Leap Into the Future” (Nairobi: Word Alive Publishers, 2095) and Presidential or Parliamentary Democracy in Kenya: Choices to Be Made (Nairobi; Booktalk Africa Publishers, 2019).
In 1995 he was awarded the German-African Award for his contribution to democracy and democratisation in Africa. He was recently a Gro Harlem Brundland Senior Leadership Fellow in the Division of Policy Translation and Leadership Development, the Harvard School of Public Health.
Prof. Nyong’o taught at the University of Nairobi (1977-81), El Colegio de Mexico (1971-84) and Addis Ababa University (1984-86) before joining the African Academy of Sciences as Head of Programs from 1987 to 1992. He is a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences and a member of committees and Boards including the Africa Monitor; The Nelson Mandela Institute for Science technology and the Advancement of Knowledge; and the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration.