About Kisumu, Kenya
Kisumu, Kenya (population estimated 500,000) is the third-largest city in Kenya and the capital of Nyanza Province in western Kenya. At 5,000 feet above sea level and 15 miles south of the Equator, Kisumu lies on Lake Victoria, the 2nd largest fresh water lake in the world and the source of the Nile.
Formerly named Port Florence, Kisumu was founded in 1901 to serve as the main terminal for the Ugandan Railway. Due to local farming in cotton, sugar and rice, Kisumu’s economy thrived for many years, but finally collapsed along with the rest of the nation in the 1980s. As a result, industries closed, sugar production collapsed, cotton could not compete with imports and the railways and roads deteriorated. Today, Kisumu still faces extreme poverty.
The following statistics about Kisumu were provided by the Kisumu Municipal Council:
- 48% of the people in Kisumu live below the poverty line (compared to 29% nationally).
- It has the highest incidence of food poverty, with 53.4% of the population below the food poverty line (compared to 8.4% in Nairobi).
- The official unemployment rate is 30%, but 52% of the working population is engaged in informal sector activities (e.g., transport, petty sales, repairs) and make a monthly wage of around $40-50.
- 60% of the population live in slums, with high densities, in only temporary or semi-permanent structures, and with a shortage of basic services like electricity, water and sanitation.
- Only 40% of the Kisumu population have access to piped water.
- Only 20% of the waste in Kisumu is collected and the city has only 10% sewerage coverage.
- Kisumu has a high HIV/AIDs rate of 14% of the total population infected, compared to 7% nationally. This is compounded by the high rate of malaria and water-borne diseases in Kisumu.
Despite its struggle with poverty, Kisumu is a city of great potential and beauty. Visitors never fail to admire the dazzling sunsets over Lake Victoria, the indigenous wildlife (such as hippos, birds, monkeys, etc), and spectacular rock formations nearby, such as Kit Mikaye. Residents of Kisumu remain optimistic that, as a UN Millenium City, municipal leaders will continue to improve its infrastructure, strengthen the economy, and address the needs of those living in poverty.