An Introduction to Kisumu, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya is located on the coast of East Africa. It straddles the Equator and has a rich diversity of landscapes. With a sandy coastline in the East, arid plains in the North, fertile rolling hills in the West, national parks richly inhabited by wildlife in the South, the steep cliffs and slopes of the Great Rift Valley in the centre, and a number of lakes, both large and small, Kenya’s geography is extremely varied. There are public busses that travel between most cities, and flights between Kisumu, Nairobi, and Mombasa.
Tourist having a game ride at Maasai Mara National Park
Kenya best to visit, OLPS will make it a reality!
There are many ethnic groups in Kenya and, while they share many traits, each one is distinct. They each have their own language (some have many sub-tribes and therefore many languages) and their own cultural practices. Kisumu locals are members of the Luo tribe. They speak Kijaluo, but most residents of Kisumu are also fluent in Kiswahili and English. Many conversations flow in a combination of all three of these languages. Greetings are very important in Kenyan culture, as they are a way of showing respect. People will really appreciate it if you familiarize yourself with Luo greetings (you can learn in the Language Lessons section!). There will often be an extended greeting where each person asks the other how they woke up, how their day is going, etc. Discussions in Luo can sometimes sound to foreigners like shouting matches. Luo people are very expressive but this does not mean they’re fighting or angry.
Maasai morans performing a traditional dance
Members of Luo Ramogi Dance Group performing a traditional ritual song
There are cultural norms that are not common in European or North American countries, such as polygamy (many men, especially in the older generations, have more than one wife). Homosexuality is also widely rejected in Kenya and, while you are welcome to engage in respectful discussions about any topic, please be aware that issues such as this can be quite sensitive and avoiding debates is often wise. It is also considered disrespectful to use your left hand while interacting with others, whether it be to shake hands, to accept money or a purchase, or while sharing food with others. Being aware that these cultural differences exist will help you navigate the adjustment into a new cultural context.
Kisumu
Kisumu is the third largest city in Kenya, located in the Western part of the country on the shore of Lake Victoria (the largest freshwater lake in Africa. The fishing industry is thriving here – it is a common treat for locals and tourists alike to enjoy fresh fish by the lakeside. Kisumu is also a major sugar manufacturing hub, and serves as a port for the transportation of various goods. There are lots of different stores in Kisumu. You can find almost all of the comforts you enjoy at home, from ice cream to a movie theatre. There are a wide variety of food options available – you can buy fresh produce from local vendors on the street and cook for yourself, you can visit local “hotels” (this is the name for restaurants in Kenya) to enjoy typical Kenyan cuisine, or you can go into the town centre to find restaurants that sell pizza, pasta, Indian dishes, burgers, salads, and much more.
Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in the world; Kisumu lies right at the shores of L. Victoria
Kit-mikayi means “the stone of the first woman”, or “stone of the first wife”, in Dholuo, the Luo language.
There are lots of things to do in Kisumu when you’re not volunteering: Dunga Beach offers a prime location for enjoying fresh fish, watching fishermen at work, or experiencing a boat ride to see hippos in their natural habitat; Most of the hotels in the city have swimming pools where visitors can pay a small amount to relax for the day; The Kakamega Rainforest is only a couple hours from Kisumu and it offers beautiful hiking and incredible monkey sightings!
You take a tour and view some of the largest animals in the world (Hippos)
You can enjoy nature walk at the Sanctuary and view other animals in protected cages
You can also take a boat ride at Dunga Beach, 2km from the city
Some of our volunteers (Katrina and Sydney) enjoying a delicious dish of Tilapia at TilaPia Beach
Kisumu Children's Rescue Center 