Kisumu

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.

By plane

• is 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.
• Silverstone Air Low-cost airline which has direct flights from Kisumu to Wilson Airport in Nairobi and Mombasa.

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 KSH. 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

As of 2018, all train service to Kisumu is suspended. In a few years time, the new standard gauge railway is expected to be operational.

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 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.

Kisumu is a small town with lots to see. You can use the notorious boda boda (bicycle taxi), pikipiki (motorcycle taxis), matatus, buses, or you can rent a car.

In Kisumu

• Kibuye MarketThis 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

  address: Nairobi Rd

• Impala sanctuary

• Town Clock

  address: Oginga Odinga Rd
• 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

Near Kisumu

• The EquatorKisumu 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

• FishingKisumu is a very good starting spot for fishing expeditions on the lake.

  Get to Dunga fishing village contact local guide +254 715604993

• GolfThere 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

  address: Ochieng Ave
  The national library has books in English, Swahili and Luo.

• Dunga Papyrus Boardwalk

  phone: +254 715604993
  address: 3954
  The papyrus boardwalk offers lake museum with luo cultural artifacts. the place is ideal for birding especially endemic species e.g. papyrus gonolek, carruthers cisticola
  
  It offers space for photo shoots, camping and parties/occasions.

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 StallsSoapstone objects.

• Kisumu Main MarketThis market specializes in textile (kikoi, kanga, batik).

• Pendeza Weaving

  phone: +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 offers currency exchange and other banking services and is open 7 days a week. A passport is required.

Banks ATMs

• Ecobank

  address: United Mall Joma Kenyatta Highway
  Has a Mastercard/Visa card ATM.

• Equity BankHas a Mastercard/Visa card ATM.

Malls & supermarkets

• Naivas Supermarket

  address: Jomo Kenyatta Rd

• West End Shopping Mall

  address: Got Huma Rd

• United Mall

  address: Jomo Kenyatta Highway
  Has a Tuskys Supermarket. Easy Coach departs from here going to Uganda and Nairobi.

• Choppies Supermarkets

  address: Oginga Odinga Road
  Five branches in Kisumu. Owned by Choppies supermarkets Botswana.

• Khetias Supermarket

• Lake Basin Shopping Mall

  address: Kisumu-Vihiga Road
  Biggest shopping mall in Kisumu. Five floors, 140 stores, and a car park for 335 cars.

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

  phone: +254 57 2022211
  address: Jomo Kenyatta Highway
  Local and international cuisine. One of the best classical restaurants.

• Lakeside Meeting Point

  address: Oginga Odinga Rd
  Local and international cuisine from fresh produce.

• Mon Ami

  address: Mega Plaza on Oginga Odinga Rd
  Italian and international cuisine.

• Hussein Pan House

  address: Accra St
  Indian cuisine.

• Oriental Restaurant

  address: Al-Imran Plaza
  Chinese cuisine.

• Kimwa Cafe

  address: Ogada St
  Local cuisine from fresh ingredients.

• Kisumu Yacht ClubLocal and international cuisine. You must have a member card from the club (temporary cards are available).

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.

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.

• London Guest House

  phone: +254 736 531205
  address: 1 Kibos Rd
  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.

• Mountain View Resorts

  phone: +254 772511527
  Affordable single/double rooms with own bathroom. decent and rather pleasant accommodation. Stay 4 days and get one day free.

• Sooper Guest House

  address: Oginga Odinga Rd
  Very clean, hot showers, mosquito nets and window screens, TV with satellite, a beautiful roof top terrace with lake view. Seems to be the only cheap place in town that has free Wi-Fi, even in the rooms. Has 34 single and double rooms. Breakfast costs Ksh 200 per person.

• Lakeside Guesthouse

  phone: +254 729553066
  address: Kendu Ln opposite lake view hotel short walk from minoki building
  Single/double with own bathroom and dstv. Clean place with a Spectacular view of the lake. Total of 22 rooms. Good security and you can lock the room with your own padlock. Clean large mosquito nets, clean bathroom, hot water instant showers in all rooms. Breakfast costs Ksh 150 per person, free Wi-Fi in all rooms.

• Kisumu Backpacker Hostel

  phone: +254-704316285
  address: Winam Square 43 Milimani
  Has a 5-bed dorm and two double rooms.

• Joy Guest house

  phone: +254-720-272037

• YWCA hostel

  phone: +254 57-2024788
  address: Angawa Avenue
  Five dorms with 8 beds per dorm. Has to be the most low cost place to stay in Kisumu.

• Jumuia Guest house

  address: Lumumba Rd
  Single/double rooms

• St Anna Guest House

  phone: +254 57-2024792
  address: Millimani Tom Mboya St
  Has 35 single and double rooms

• New Razbi Guest house

  phone: +254 721824349
  address: Kendu Ln
  Single/double rooms. Hot water bathrooms. Has a TV lounge. Some rooms out side bathrooms.

• New East View hotel

  phone: +254 722556721
  address: Omolo Agar Rd
  Single room.

• Phaldomar Guest house

  phone: +254 723053026
  address: Kenya re Rd
  Single/double rooms with own bathroom.

• Lake View

  phone: +254 721-778287
  address: Alego street
  Single/double rooms with own hot water bathrooms and nets

• New Victoria

  phone: +254 57-2021067
  address: Gar Mahia Road
  Single room with outside bathrooms

• Mirukas Lodge

  phone: +254 727233887
  address: Apindi Street
  Single/double rooms with hot water bathrooms.

• Hacienda Guest House

  phone: +254 722965472, +254 721266716
  address: Migosi, Kenya Re Road, Green View Stage
  A small guest house of 5 rooms. Wall fence with 24 hours security. Very neat and quite.

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 :

• 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.

Cybercafes

• Aguch Kisumo Public Information Resource Center

  phone: +254 57 2021060, +254 723 201779

• Bhavniks Cyber

  phone: +254 57 23395
  address: Mega Plaza, ground floor

• Noble Service Enterprises

  phone: +254 57 2022994, +254 722 370473
  address: Mega Plaza, ground floor

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.

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