Kisumu, Port city in western Kenya
Kisumu sits on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria, in the western section of Kenya where Nyanza Province meets Africa's largest inland water body. The wide streets run from the town center down to the port, passing low-rise buildings, markets and waterfront promenades that open onto clear views of the water.
The British colonial administration founded the town in 1901 as the terminus of the Uganda Railway and named it Port Florence, after the chief engineer's wife. In the 1920s the place was renamed Kisumu, which had already been a trading center for the Luo community, and quickly grew into the main port on the Kenyan shore of the lake.
The name comes from the Luo word "Kisuma," meaning "place of barter," and refers to its long role as a trading and market hub. In the street markets, especially around Jubilee Market, you still hear Dholuo, the language of the largest ethnic group in the area, and find fresh fish straight from the lake, vegetables and local crafts.
The international airport lies about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of the town center and offers daily direct connections to Nairobi, while the port maintains regular ferry and cargo links to Tanzanian and Ugandan towns. The town is easy to explore on foot, with motorcycle taxis and shared minibuses serving as the main public transport within the urban area.
Off the shore near Dunga Beach, a few kilometers south of the town, lies Hippo Point, a narrow stretch of land from which visitors can observe hippos in their natural habitat during boat trips. Nearby stands Kit Mikayi, a formation of three large boulders forming a traditional Luo shrine that still holds spiritual meaning for the local community today.
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