Fish lovers have every reason to smile this Easter as the County Government of Kisumu has organized a fish festival to sample the best freshwater fish from Lake Victoria.
County Director of Tourism Thomas Ouko said the signature event targets to woo visitors to the lake side county as efforts to revive tourism in the western circuit gain momentum.
Visitors will have a chance to eat various types of fish on the shores of Lake Victoria besides participating in other events lined up during the celebrations.
The event slated for 6th-9th April 2023 will bring together state and non-state agencies to promote tourism and chart the way forward on conservation of Lake Victoria.
Visitors will be treated to the best Luo cuisine, traditions and music with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) displaying some of the various fish species found in Lake Victoria.
“This lake used to be home to over 200 species of fish, but due to pollution and human activity the number has reduced significantly. That is why we are creating conversations around this matter to help conserve the lake,” he said.
This, added Ouko, was in line with the county government’s agenda to promote Kisumu as a tourist destination of choice.
The department of tourism, he said, has launched a campaign dubbed ‘Kisumu My Pride’ with a goal to market the best the county has to offer to the world.
“Lake Victoria is a key attraction. That is why the county government wants to promote it through various activities to attract visitors. Just the way people go to Mombasa to holiday we want them to come to Kisumu,” he said.
Through partnership with the Osiepe Sango organization, a cleanup along the shores of the lake has been planned ahead of the key event.
Other events lined up during the festival include fireworks, boat racing, tug of war, photo contest, Mr and Mrs Tourism, Mr Flex, Mr Strong, Luo Traditional Wrestling, lake excursion and exhibitions.
Ouko said auditions for the events have been finalized and the winners in the various categories will compete during the celebrations to be held at Hippo Point Public Beach in Kisumu City.
Visitors and participants, he said, will also have a chance to engage in talk shows, symposia and a tour of the lake.
Besides promotion of tourism, the county director said the event will present an opportunity for the participants to exploit their talents with a view to earning a living from them.
“Our goal is to expose the talent out there and support our youth to make a living out of it. Already some organizations have approached with the intention of absorbing some of the youth who have been participating in the Sub county auditions,” he said.
By Chris Mahandara
