Kisumu to install 2,500 CCTV cameras to enhance security

Kisumu City has announced a robust security and mobility upgrade, unveiling plans to install 2,500 CCTV cameras across urban, estate, and strategic rural locations. City Manager Abala Wanga revealed the initiative during a press briefing, explaining that the cameras will be integrated with streetlights for seamless monitoring. The goal is to clamp down on rising crime and closely track the movements of vehicles such as boda bodas, tuk-tuks, and public transport.
Under the World Bank–funded Kisumu Urban Project (KUP), this surveillance network comes as a response to increased criminal reports, often linked to public transport operators. Wanga noted that currently, the city too heavily relies on private CCTV systems owned by local businesses—a patchwork approach that has struggled to keep pace with Kisumu’s rapid population growth.
As part of the scheme, boda boda operators will be registered, and their motorcycles equipped with GPS tracking to enhance accountability.
In addition, the city has introduced new directives to reroute buses: for example, vehicles from Busia and Bondo will divert via Paramount into Mamba, while town-service buses will no longer enter the CBD but instead drop passengers at Patel Roundabout.
The announcement has drawn cautious optimism from residents and county leaders. Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, citing earlier security meetings, praised the initiative as part of a broader push to restore street lighting, expand surveillance infrastructure, and re‑register boda bodas to reintegrate them into formal, regulated bases.
Security analysts suggest that the CCTV network could significantly reduce crime if paired with a robust command centre and responsive law enforcement. However, some civil society voices warn that privacy safeguards and data protection measures must go hand in hand with surveillance.
Looking ahead, the project not only promises safer streets but also more efficient transport management. Once fully deployed, the cameras will feed into a central system that could help to track criminal suspects and non-compliant transport operators in real time. City management has set ambitious timelines and is working on a command and control hub’s establishment, which could further boost rapid response capacity. If executed well, Kisumu’s CCTV rollout could mark a turning point in its journey toward becoming a smarter, more secure lakeside city.