Inter Region Economic Network hosted delegates from Denver (USA) and Kunming (China) for a Sino African Initiative exchange visit in Nairobi. The exchange visit that took place from April 21-25, 2013 included water experts from cities, city representatives and business individuals from the three cities.

During their visit, the delegation paid a courtesy call to the Governor of Nairobi HE. Evans Kidero. The Governor welcomed partnership with other city leaders in the world to ensure that the city dwellers can get improved service delivery. He welcomed Denver leaders, which is a Sister City to Nairobi, to join his think tank team to brainstorm on how the city can be improved.

During their stay, water experts paid a courtesy call to the Managing Director of Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company Eng. Philip Gichuki and later visited Ngethu water treatment plant to assess the water treatment process in the city. During this visit, the water experts  from the three cities identified challenges related to water supply in the city and brainstormed solutions to this challenges. They promised to work together to improve water supply in the city.

The delegates also hosted the speaker of Nairobi County assembly Hon. Alex Ole Magelo for a breakfast meeting at the Savora Panafric Hotel. The speaker who is a former  long serving Chairman of Nairobi –Denver  Sister City Committee was happy to host the team and promised to work with Denver City leadership  to share best practice on how to improve service delivery in the city.

The delegates also visited Madaraka Primary School where they are doing their rehabilitation project, a project that funded by Sister Cities International.

The objective of the visit is to forge a working relationship on how the three cities can work together to improve service delivery through Sister City relationship. Nairobi and Denver have been Sister Cities since 1975 and have been involved in numerous exchanges.

By Raymond Kiptum
Program Manager, Eastern Africa Sister Cities.