The Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) has partnered with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation to promote the region as a prime tourism destination.
LREB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Victor Nyagaya announced that this collaboration would position Kisumu County as the first port of call for all tourists arriving in Kenya from India.
While addressing delegates at the Festac Africa Festival Tourism Summit in Kisumu on Thursday, Nyagaya emphasised that LREB is home to unique and under-exploited tourist attractions.
“The discussions with the Indian state corporation are at an advanced stage, and we are on the verge of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish Kisumu County as the regional hub for tourism between Kenya and India,” he revealed.
This, the CEO added, would ensure that tourists from India make Kisumu their first destination before exploring other parts of the country.
He noted that over 400,000 Kenyans travelled to India annually for medical services, while approximately one million Indians visit Kenya each year for business and leisure.
Nyagaya highlighted the rich scenic beauty across the 14 counties under LREB, urging both local and foreign tourists to explore these sites before venturing to other parts of Kenya.
“We need to change the tourism destination narrative by making this region the starting point, followed by visits to the Masai Mara, and concluding with Mombasa,” he proposed.
He called on stakeholders to support the bloc’s ambitions to transform the region into a tourism hub and help shift the focus from the coastal and Masai Mara destinations, thereby, fostering growth in the lake region’s tourism industry.
Nyagaya further pointed out that the region’s diverse culture and annual festivals, such as the Fish Fiesta and Tourism Week in Kisumu County, as well as the Migwena Community Sports and Cultural Festival in Siaya County, have the potential to attract tourists interested in learning the local culture and heritage.
“If you visit Migori, you’ll find the Thimlich Ohinga archaeological site; in Kakamega, there’s The Crying Stone; Kisumu has Kit Mikayi; Homa Bay has Lake Simbi Nyaima; while Kericho and Bomet offer stunning views of tea estates. As a bloc, we take pride in our rich offerings; hence, we have the potential to draw tourists to this region,” Nyagaya affirmed.
Speaking at the same forum, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Tourism Farida Salim acknowledged that Kisumu is championing cultural tourism as an opportunity to showcase the region’s rich heritage and tap into the global tourism market.
“By promoting our cultural assets—history, traditions, music, art, and festivals—we can create jobs, support local businesses, and enhance the livelihoods of our communities while driving sustainable development,” Salim remarked.
She emphasised the county’s commitment to promoting culture and heritage to position Kisumu and Kenya as leading destinations for cultural tourism.
By Robert Ojwang’
