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Chris Kirubi tells Raila why he never invested in Kisumu – VIDEO


City tycoon Chris Kirubi has explained to Nasa leader Raila Odinga his reluctance to invest in Kisumu.

Mr Kirubi, who met Mr Odinga on Tuesday at his Loresho home, cited fears of recurrent electoral violence in the lakeside city.

He however expressed willingness to try his luck in Kisumu, but needs assurance of adequate security from political chaos.

“I will be one of those people who will be coming to invest in Kisumu, but today I can’t because I am scared that in five years, there will be that destruction cycle.

“Investors don’t invest in cycles. We want long-term peace, that is what you (Raila) hold… you can help Kenya to grow,” he told Mr Odinga.

CONFIDENCE TO INVESTORS

He told Mr Odinga that local leaders and residents must give confidence to investors for them to pump money in the region.

“Let us invest in Kisumu. If you want your people to get jobs, please let us have peace. If people know that their money will not go to waste then they will come,” he said.

Mr Kirubi is the single-largest shareholder of the Nairobi Securities Exchange traded Centum Investments with a 28.64 percent stake, according to publicised records.

His business interests are diverse, ranging from broadcasting, Capital Media Group, to manufacturing, Haco Tiger Brands.

The businessman said the decision taken by Mr Odinga to unite the whole country will attract investors to the western region.

The businessman lauded the opposition leader for forging peace through the historical handshake between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 9th.

He told Mr Odinga: “It will go down in history that your decision brought peace between tribes.”

Mr Odinga assured Mr Kirubi that he will retire a happy man if he can create the right conditions for uniting the country.

BASIS OF HANDSHAKE

“This country has a potential but it has been a perennial underachiever of the Kenyan dream. This is what we want to do that was the basis of our handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta,” said Mr Odinga.

He indicated that if he can ensure every Kenyan can move around the country freely and be able to realise their potential, he would have achieved the biggest goal in his life.