Kisumu–SNV Partnership: What the February 2026 MoU Covers
Updated October 9, 2026
Kisumu County and SNV, the Netherlands Development Organisation, signed a memorandum of understanding on February 16, 2026. The county described it as a framework for cooperation on agri-food systems, climate change, water, trade, renewable energy, gender equality and social inclusion.
What the county said the framework would do
Deputy Governor Mathew Owili said technical teams from the county departments responsible for trade and tourism, agriculture, and energy would work with SNV. The announcement named possible activities including support for micro, small and medium enterprises, policy development, legislative drafting, public participation, monitoring and gender mainstreaming.
The signing announcement did not provide a project-by-project budget, delivery schedule, number of households to be served or a list of services residents could apply for. An MoU sets out an intention to cooperate; it does not by itself show that a project has been funded or delivered.
Some cited programmes pre-date the MoU
At the signing, county officials pointed to SNV programmes already operating in Kisumu, including Investments in Young Businesses in Africa (IYBA-SEED), Engaging Kenyan Youth in Agriculture and Nutrition (EKYAN), and Veggies 4 Planet and People. SNV later reported that EKYAN ran from October 2024 to April 2026 and reached more than 5,000 young people across four counties, including Kisumu. That programme should not be mistaken for a new benefit created by the February MoU.
What residents and businesses can verify
- Which specific projects were approved after the MoU and which department is responsible.
- Whether a project has a published budget, funding partner and delivery dates.
- How residents or businesses can participate, and whether any application or fee is officially required.
- What monitoring results the county and SNV publish on jobs, farmer support, water, energy or climate resilience.
For now, the available announcement establishes the partnership’s areas of interest, not measured outcomes. Residents should use the county’s notices and SNV programme pages to verify any later call for beneficiaries or project results.
