Kisumu: Intermediate city in search of growth

Kisumu is an ancient port city in western Kenya located on the shores of Lake Victoria; it constitutes the commercial, industrial and transport center for this region mainly because of its river and rail connections. Its name means a place of “sumo” barter in the Luo language and clearly represents the commercial character of the city. Despite a multi-ethnic population, Kenya's ethnic Luo tribe makes up most of the population of Kisumu City, Kenya's third largest city after Nairobi and Mombasa.

Kisumu town is a tropical climate zone, with the added benefit of being bordered by Lake Victoria. The city is warm and with variable cloud cover during the year ranging from April to cloudy skies to clear skies in August. The most rainy days are counted during the cloudy period. Kenya is a renowned tourist destination which welcomes many foreign tourists every year, particularly in Kisumu, which has several advantages due to its geographical location.

In May 2022 Kisumu had the distinct honor of being the first intermediary city to host the Africities summit, the flagship event of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, which is held every three years in one of the five regions of 'Africa. The summit mobilizing communities and local authorities from African countries, as well as financial institutions, civil society groups and development partners at the continental and international level, draws a large crowd of participants to accommodate, feed and move for 5 days , a challenge brilliantly taken up by the city of Kisumu.

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