Kisumu - city in Kenya

Kisumu is a port city in western Kenya; located on a bay on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria at an altitude of 1,131 m (3,711 ft). It is the headquarters of Kisumu County and after Kampala, the second largest city in the Lake Victoria basin.

Understand

The city was founded by the British as "Port Florence" in 1901 as a stop on the railway between Mombasa and Uganda. A year later, the city was renamed Kisumu, from a Luo word meaning "market, trading place".

In 2006, Kisumu was designated one of Africa's 11 'Millenium Cities' by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

Climate

Kisumu enjoys a tropical savanna climate. The lowest temperatures (about 12°C at night and 17°C to 19°C by day) occur in August and September. The highest daytime temperatures can reach 37°C in the warm season (December to April).

The rain season is from March to May. A secondary rain season occurs in November and December. The dryest month is January.

Get in

By plane

• Kisumu International Airportis served by daily flights from Nairobi.
• Kenya Airways has five daily flights to the capital Nairobi,Kenya Airways. The flight lasts about 45 minutes and takes you above lakes Naivasha and Nakuru.
• Jambojet is a low-cost airline that has flights from Kisumu to Nairobi.
• Fly540 also operates direct flights from Nairobi.

The airport is about 3.5 km from the city. A few taxis and matatu minibuses do the journey between the airport and the city. In 2018, a matatu cost about Ksh 50 and a taxi cost Ksh 500-1000. Some hotels and car rental companies can arrange pickups. Jambojet has a bus to and from Kisumu airport.

By boat

There are no ferries linking Kisumu with other cities on Lake Victoria.

By train

Passenger services from the capital Nairobi via Nakuru resumed in 2021.

• Kisumu railway station, -0.1048°, 34.7476°. 2021-05-22

By bus & minivan

• Easy Coach: Buses arrive at United Mall and Bank Road Behide the KPLC office, the ticket office is also located there. Easy Coach has 7 trips per day from Nairobi (Ksh 1400, 8 hours). Easy Coach also has two buses a day from Jinja and Kampala (Ksh 1500, 5/7 hours). There are also three departures daily from Mbale.
• Modern Coast Express (Gumbi Road Kisumu bus park) has buses six times a day from Nairobi (from Ksh 1000). Modern Coast also have three buses a day from Kampala (Ksh 1600) with a stop in Busia. Note that Modern Coach has more than one bus stop in town; travelers are encouraged to confirm the exact location in advance, and allow extra time in case of last-minute changes.
• In Nairobi, some buses depart from the Country Bus Station near Wakulima Market, between Pumwani Road and Landheis Road. Easy Bus departs from their own bus station on Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi, near Nairobi Train Station.
• Prestige Shuttle has 11-seat vans from Nairobi via Nakuru from 7AM-5PM (Ksh 1000, 6 hours).
• The Guardian Coach (dead link: January 2023) has service from Nairobi.
• There are also minivans from Kisii, Kericho, and Eldoret.

By car

Make sure to have an international driving licence. You can obtain one from the Road Transport Office in Nairobi. Travelling by day is recommended as the roads can be unsafe at night. You may encounter police stops.

• From Nairobi, the distance is about 380 km. Take Chimoro Road towards Gitaru, then turn onto A104 (Waiyaki Way) past Naivasha and Nakuru. About 30 km past Nakuru, turn left onto B1 towards Kisumu. The trip can take from 5 to 12 hours depending on whether you want to stop and observe Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and Kericho.
• from Kisumu to the Uganda border at Busia is 119 km.
• from Kisumu to Jinja Uganda is 237 km.
• from Kisumu to Nakuru is 197 km.
• from Kisumu to Kisii is 120 km.
• from Kisumu to Kitale is 158 km.
• from Kisuma to Kericho is 90 km.

Get around

Despite being Kenya's third-largest city the traffic in Kisumu isn't all that bad. You can use the notorious boda boda (bicycle taxi), pikipiki (motorcycle taxis), matatus, buses, or you can rent a car.

See

In Kisumu

• Kibuye Market, -0.093332°, 34.768446°. This is the second largest open air market in Kenya, and one of the oldest. It is on Jomo Kenyatta Highway, north-east of the city center, about 1.5 km from the long distance bus stop. The market is active day and night every day.
• Kisumu Museum, Nairobi Rd, -0.107615°, 34.762693°, +254 41 2004975.
• Impala sanctuary, -0.162172°, 34.609586°.
• Town Clock, Oginga Odinga Rd, -0.10147°, 34.75169°. Honestly not much to look at. 2021-09-27
• Dunga Beach, A simmering fishing village with welcoming residents. Ideal for boat cruise, hippo viewing, bird watching, and fresh tilapia in local restaurants.
• Kiboko point (Hippo Point), -0.12495°, 34.74205°. Popular patch of land near the lake where you might catch a nice glimpse of the sunset. Despite the name there's hardly any hippos to see. Free

Near Kisumu

• The Equator. Kisumu is a few kilometers south of the Equator and you can easily reach the equator by car. Drive north on A1 towards Kakamega and you'll cross the Equator near the village of Mutet, or drive on B1 towards Busia to the small town Maseno.
• Kit Mikayi rocks, -0.116936°, 34.540706°.

Do

• Fishing. Kisumu is a very good starting spot for fishing expeditions on the lake.
• Golf. There is a golf course in the Nyanza Club, near the lake, close to the airport. The club has a swimming pool and a tennis court.
• Learn, Ochieng Ave. The national library has books in English, Swahili and Luo.
• Dunga Papyrus Boardwalk (Boardwalk), 3954 (3 kilometers), +254 715604993, owinojera96@gmail.com. The papyrus boardwalk offers lake museum with Luo cultural artifacts. The place is ideal for bird watching especially endemic species e.g. papyrus gonolek, carruthers cisticola. It offers space for photo shoots, camping and parties/occasions. 2019-03-28

Buy

Many local crafts can make good souvenirs.

• Musical instruments such as nyatiti and orutu, typical of the Luo's musical culture.
• Soapstone objects. The historical center of soapstone crafts is in Kisii, about 100 km south of Kisumu.
• Objects woven from sisal (such as kiondo handbags), papyrus or water hyacinth. Loincloths: vikoi (singular kikoi) for men, kanha for women.Batik (paintings on textile).
• Household wood items.
• Kibuye Market.
• Kisumu Craft Stalls. Soapstone objects.
• Kisumu Main Market. This market specializes in textile (kikoi, kanga, batik).
• Pendeza Weaving, +254 735 229904, +254 734 587253 (mobile). Another textile market.

Currency exchange

Most banks in town offer currency exchange between Kenyan Shillings and major international currencies. You may have a harder time buying or selling Ugandan shillings, despite the proximity to the border.

DTB's branch in the West End shopping center (dead link: December 2020) offers currency exchange and other banking services and is open 7 days a week. A passport is required.

Banks ATMs

• Ecobank, United Mall Joma Kenyatta Highway. 24 hours. Has a Mastercard/Visa card ATM. no fee 2018-04-28
• Equity Bank. 24 hours. Has a Mastercard/Visa card ATM. no fee 2018-04-28

Malls & supermarkets

• Naivas Supermarket, Jomo Kenyatta Rd. 8AM-9PM. 2015-06-12
• West End Shopping Mall, Got Huma Rd. 9AM-8PM. 2015-06-15
• United Mall, Jomo Kenyatta Highway. 9AM-8PM. Has a Carrefour Supermarket. Easy Coach departs from here going to Uganda and Nairobi. 2015-06-15
• Khetias Supermarket. 8AM-9PM. lower prices 2018-04-10
• Lake Basin Shopping Mall, Kisumu-Vihiga Road. 9AM-8PM. Biggest shopping mall in Kisumu. Five floors, 140 stores, and a car park for 335 cars. 2018-04-28
• Quick Mart, Oginga Odinga Road, -0.10249°, 34.75234°. Well stocked supermarket with bakery and take-away food section. 2021-09-26
• Carrefour, Oginga Odinga Road (On the upper ground floor of Mega Plaza Mall), -0.10422°, 34.75265°. Probably the biggest and best stocked supermarket in downtown. Good selection of imported / international items. Bakery/product/take away secion is lacking. New market. As of Sep 2021 seems still partly under construction / in process of expanding. 2021-09-27

Eat

Aside from the town centre there are a number of places to eat and drink in the evenings in the Kondele region on Kibos Road and on Jomo Kenyatta Highway with guest houses close by.

Mid-range

• Florence Restaurant, Jomo Kenyatta Highway, +254 57 2022211. Local and international cuisine. One of the best classical restaurants.
• Oriental Restaurant, Al-Imran Plaza. Chinese cuisine.
• Kimwa Cafe, Ogada St. Local cuisine from fresh ingredients.
• Kisumu Yacht Club. Local and international cuisine. You must have a member card from the club (temporary cards are available).

Drink

Aside from the town centre there are a number of places to eat and drink in the evenings in the Kondele region on Kibos Road and on Jomo Kenyatta Highway with guest houses close by.

• Alleyways Beer Garden, -0.103030°, 34.751915°. Morning until curfew. Very popular bar/beer garden downtown. Gets very crowded on the weekend. African music all they way. Unfortunately no dance floor so if you feel like "moving" you gotta be careful not to knock the tables over. Average prices. 2021-10-03

Sleep

Kisumu has a number of guest houses, hotels, motels, hostels, all dependent on your needs and budget. It is common for hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation to be called a guest house in Kisumu Kenya. They are the most common and best value places to stay — hotels seem to ramp up their prices just because they are a hotel — beware.

Budget

• Sooper Guest House, Oginga Odinga Rd (Near Oginga Odinga Road and Odera Street), -0.09926°, 34.7508°. Hot showers, mosquito nets and window screens. Wifi. TV with satellite, a beautiful roof top terrace with lake view. Has 34 single and double rooms. Breakfast costs Ksh 200 per person. Ksh 1600 2021-09-26
• Lakeside Guesthouse, Kendu Lane (Opposite of Lake View Hotel, about 30m from corner with Oginga Odinga Rd.), -0.09986°, 34.75023°, +254 729538638. Single/double with own bathroom and dstv. Clean place. Some rooms with lake view. Total of 22 rooms. Good security. Some rooms can be locked with your own padlock. Mosquito nets/window screens. Some rooms with ceiling fans. Bathroom, hot water showers in all rooms. Decent Wi-Fi in all rooms. No power generator. All rooms Ksh 1400 2021-09
• Razbi Guest house, Odera Street (around the corner off Sooper Guest house), -0.09942°, 34.75109°, +254 721824349. Check-in: flexible, check-out: 09:00. Single/double rooms. Clean. Each room with small table, chair. Mosquito nets/window screens. Some rooms with ceiling fans. No Wifi. Hot water bathrooms. Has a dining room with TV lounge. Cheaper rooms with shared bathrooms. Ksh 900-1200 2021-09-26
• Sigana Guest House, -0.112838°, 34.757222°. Spacious double rooms. Quiet area. Ksh 2000 2021-09
• New East View Hotel, Omolo Agar Rd, -0.103993°, 34.75803°, +254 722556721. Single room. Starting from Ksh 2000 2021-09
• Beach View Hotel, -0.130340°, 34.743721°. Very small rooms with TV, table, mosquito net. Wifi. Breakfast Ksh 200. Power generator. Quiet area. Ksh 1500 (room only) 2021-09-26
• Kisumu Backpacker Hostel, Winam Square 43 Milimani, +254-704316285. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Has a 5-bed dorm and two double rooms. Ksh 1200/3000 2015-04-17
• YWCA hostel, Angawa Avenue, +254 57-2024788. Five dorms with 8 beds per dorm. Has to be the most low cost place to stay in Kisumu. Dorm bed Ksh 450 per person 2015-04-23
• Jumuia Guest house, Lumumba Rd. Single/double rooms 2015-06-16
• St Anna Guest House, Millimani Tom Mboya St, +254 57-2024792. Has 35 single and double rooms Double Ksh 1900 2015-06-16
• Phaldomar Guest House, Kenya re Rd, +254 723053026. Single/double rooms with own bathroom. from Ksh 1200/1600 2015-06-21
• Lake View, Alego street, +254 721-778287. Single/double rooms with own hot water bathrooms and nets Ksh 1500 2015-10-09
• New Victoria, Gar Mahia Road, +254 57-2021067. Single room with outside bathrooms Ksh 1100 2015-10-09
• Mirukas Lodge, Apindi Street, +254 727233887. Single/double rooms with hot water bathrooms. Ksh 1200 2015-11-18
• Hacienda Guest House (The Hacienda), Migosi, Kenya Re Road, Green View Stage (Route 44 Kondele - Kenya Re Road), +254 722965472, +254 721266716, haciendagh@gmail.com. A small guest house of 5 rooms. Wall fence with 24 hours security. Very neat and quite. Ksh 1500-2000 2017-07-06
• London Guest House, 1 Kibos Rd, +254 736 531205. Said to be the best-value accommodation in the city. Mosquito nets are provided and a lovely outdoor but surrounded yard with tables and to sit and chat. They also provide breakfast. Single/double rooms. Has its own power generator. Has 25 rooms. Has Wi-Fi. from Ksh 1,100
• Mountain View Resorts, +254 772511527. Affordable single/double rooms with own bathroom. decent and rather pleasant accommodation. Stay 4 days and get one day free. from Ksh 1000 per person

Stay safe

Kisumu is less stressful than Nairobi or Mombasa. However pickpockets are common, especially around Kibuye Market. If you are driving, you should lock the car doors.

All public buildings (airport, post office, banks, shopping centers, etc.) are watched by security guards wearing a blue uniform. Private estates are generally guarded as well.

Kisumu police (dead link: August 2020):

• Phone: (20 is the national prefix for police forces)
  • +254 20 465767 (provincial headquarters);
  • +254 20 333151 (Kisumu division)
• There are police stations all over the city and policemen are clearly visible. The headquarters are located on Nairobi Road near the long distance bus terminal.

Connect

Cybercafes

• Aguch Kisumo Public Information Resource Center, +254 57 2021060, +254 723 201779, lakevictoriatrustfund@jomokenyattagrounds.co.ke. 07:00-21:00. Ksh 0.50 per minute
• Bhavniks Cyber, Mega Plaza, ground floor, +254 57 23395, bhavniks@swiftkisumu.com. 08:30-20:30. Ksh 1 per minute
• Noble Service Enterprises, Mega Plaza, ground floor, +254 57 2022994, +254 722 370473, noble@swiftkisumu.com. 08:00-19:00. Ksh 1 per minute (minimum Ksh 5)

Telephone

All cybercafes have phone booths. The rates to phone abroad are very high in Kenya. It is usually cheaper to buy a Kenyan SIM card in a cybercafe or from a phone vendor.

The main cellphone operators are Safaricom, Airtel and telkom . Safaricom has slightly higher prices but has faster Internet.

Go next

• Kakamega Rainforest: the last remains of tropical rainforest in Kenya
• Jinja, Uganda
• Mwanza, Tanzania
• Nairobi