17% of Nyanza population still in extreme poverty

{Murenzi Abdallah has been leading Nyanza district for seven years. During his term of service, he says, about 20% of the district population has been lifted out f poverty, a feat he has attained in collaboration with local leaders at different levels.}

He is a proud mayor that says will leave office come 31st December 2015 with a proud sense of satisfaction. He, however, says the 17% district population still under the poverty-line challenges his achievements. In an interview with IGIHE, Murenzi said that 37% were in extreme poverty by the time he took up the responsibility of leading the district.

But, he says, in collaboration with his team they tried their best to improve livelihoods of the population despite 17% remaining in poor conditions. He encourages his successor not to relent but craft more strategies that will uplift the remaining poor into better livelihoods. “I am worried over 17% of the population I leave in poverty.

It would be better if the successor puts forward more programs helping citizens to be extricated from poverty,” he said. Murenzi revealed that the district has attained several achievements during his leadership including access to safe water that rose from 37% to 67% and the extension of electricity to 20% from 6%.

He says that residents benefited from irrigation practices and Girinka program among others.