Kisumu on the Shores of Lake Victoria

Kisumu City Proper

Here's a map of Kisumu on the lake's edge. If you enlarge the photo by clicking on it, you may be able to see the Esso gas stations and a listing of banks in the city. Barclay's and Standard both have branches in Kisumu, and there's a hospital, museum, library, restaurants, cybercafes and book stores! Approximately 300,000 people live in Kisumu. However, the city's infrastructure is strained and collapsing in parts. Road surfaces are disintegrating and only 40 percent of the population has piped water. Kisumu is the poorest city in Kenya with some 45 percent of the population living on less than US$150 per year. As bad as it may seem, the city does possess charm and dignity. Its mood is tranquil with a spaciously open and shady layout. The city, excellently located for accessing and exploring western Kenya, is well-connected to the rest of the country by bus and matatu (passenger mini bus).

Kisumu found its fortune in shipping. The port city funneled goods between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania until the break-up of the East African Community in 1977. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the port was mostly dormant. However, commercial shipping has resumed to Tanzania and Uganda, bringing money and activity to the area. Aid organizations, such as the UN, have been an ironic boost to Kisumu's economy. The UN World Food Program has kept the port city relatively busy transporting goods to Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Congo.