Kenya has a special place in our heart. You know what has a special place in Kenya’s heart? Kisumu! It is the third largest city, located on the lake Victoria. The city is simply amazing and is very dynamic!
We asked our Kisumu writer Kelvin 424535 about his beautiful city several questions:
Let’s imagine that a friend comes over to you. Where would you go? What streets or parks? What would you see there?
Kisumu has an appealing landscape, backed by scenic streets or parks. For example, the Kisumu Impala Sanctuary is definitely an exquisite place to visit. Located on the shores of Lake Victoria, this national park gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy time experiencing the beauty of wild animals such as cheetahs, antelopes, giraffes, and other species. The Kisumu Museum is another remarkable place that attracts visitors with the gallery where you can experience the cultural history of Kisumu.
The Oginga Odinga street extends throughout the Kisumu CBD and hosts a number of fancy restaurants. For example, the City Food Court is a prime example of what an elaborate cafeteria looks like. It offers a wide assortment of dishes, ranging from local dishes, fast-food, and beverage drinks.
What is Lake Victoria like? Is it beautiful? Can you take a boat tour? Do locals do that?
Lake Victoria gives Kisumu a unique name and contributes to its prestige as a city. You get to view its beauty when approaching the city from Siaya (a county in Kenya), probably driving your car down the hill. Its most beautiful feature is watching the lake’s horizon as the sun sets in the evening. This water body is a national attraction site that draws millions of visitors from different places to observe its natural beauty. Moreover, boat riding is possible at various points in Lake Victoria, such as Hippo Point, Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, and Dunga Hill Camp. Despite its magnificence, Lake Victoria is adversely affected by water hyacinth.
Are there any big festivals or holiday celebrations in the city? When should one visit if yes?
Ramogi Night is a famous local festival, specially for the Luo community in Kenya. This famous local festival is normally celebrated in different cities, and Kisumu is included. In particular, Ramogi Night is simply a platform where the Luo community showcases its cultural heritage that involves local dishes, local music, and other cultural aspects.
Are there any famous local dishes or drinks? What should one try to eat in Kisumu?
Tilapia is regarded as a symbolic dish for the Luo community. It is mostly served as grilled or smoked. Omena (sardines) is also among the most common symbolic dish of this community. Other examples include local vegetables such as kamongo (marbled lungfish), alot boo (cowpeas leaves), aliya (smoked beef), mor alenya (ghee), obwolo (mushroom), susa (pumpkin leaves), and osuga (black night shade).
Are there any famous local songs or movies or anything like that?
The Luo community of Kisumu has a number of rich local songs. For example, Isanda Gi Hera by Tony Nyadundo, Mapenzi Kizunguzungu by Tony Nyadundo, Hera Remo by Musa Jakadalla, and Chwade Gi Nyundo by Odongo Swag.
Dear Kelvin, thank you for taking your time to answer our questions! We hope that many writers will come visit your city!
This time we also decided to share some interesting youtube videos about Kisumu with you to supplement the story:
A General overview of the city:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwqOctudWVU
An in-depth look at the streets and whereabouts (with some atmospheric music!):