- Nyanza possesses a rich mix of natural beauty, political history, culture, cuisine and music with enormous tourism potential.
- Enock Okong’o explores attractions across the region and the opportunities they could create for young people.
- He argues that youth can transform local heritage and experiences into businesses, employment and sustainable livelihoods.
Nyanza is waking up. And this time, it’s the youth who are holding the keys.
With Lake Victoria shimmering on one side and green hills rolling on the other, the region has everything a traveller could ask for: culture, history, food, music and adventure. What it needs now is for young people to step in, own the story and turn that beauty into jobs, businesses and a future.
Tourism is not just about hotels and safaris anymore. It’s about experiences. And Nyanza has experiences in plenty.
Start in Kisumu City, the cleanest and fastest-growing lakeside city in East Africa. The waterfront has been transformed, and the evenings now pulse with music, food markets and boat rides at sunset.
Youth can find employment across Kisumu’s thriving hospitality scene. From luxury stays like The Sovereign Hotel, Acacia Premier Hotel, Ciala Resort, Imperial Hotel Kisumu and Lake Basin Development Authority Guest House, to boutique lodges and Airbnb experiences, every hotel needs tour guides, chefs, digital marketers, event hosts, DJs and content creators.
And then there is the food that keeps visitors coming back.
Fresh tilapia, mud fish and omena are served daily, with fish eggs ready at mouth-watering levels in restaurants along the lake.
The experience is not just in the taste. It is also in the sound of the place. The Dholuo language with its unmistakable accent blends with English in the markets and hotels, and leaves you wondering where one language ends and the other begins.
That mix is Nyanza. Warm, direct and unforgettable.
Beyond the hotels, Kisumu is a gateway to Dunga Beach, famous for fresh fish, boat rides and the vibrant Dunga Hippo Point where young guides now run eco-tours.
The Kisumu Museum and Impala Sanctuary are also here, home to the rare Rothschild giraffe and the rare impala. Young rangers and cultural docents are already being trained to host visitors.
At night, the city comes alive with live benga and ohangla music, and youth are running sound, lights, fashion and event planning for lakeside lounges.
Siaya, where politics meets heritage
If I do not write about Siaya County, the home of the great son of Ramogi, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and his illustrious family, I will err. I do not want to err deliberately.
Siaya is the cradle of political history and academic excellence in Nyanza. It is the home of Oburu Odinga and Kenya’s former Prime Minister, the sleeping hero Raila Odinga.
The most captivating site is Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, the historical home of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
Visitors walk through the homestead, see the house where the veteran nationalist lived and stand at his graveside. The compound tells the story of sacrifice, politics and nation building.
Youth from the area are being trained as heritage guides, storytellers and cultural curators to bring the legacy to life for tourists.
Here too stands the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, JOOUST, producing young innovators in science, ICT and tourism who are now running tech hubs, research tours and student-led cultural festivals.
Siaya’s lake beaches, traditional fishing villages and community museums offer more opportunities for boat operators, homestay hosts and event planners.
For foreigners, Siaya is where politics meets heritage, and where every story leads back to the home of a nation-builder.
Two hours south, Homa Bay County offers a different kind of magic.
Take a boat to Rusiga Island, home of the most brilliant scholar, unionist and politician Tom Joseph Mboya.
Here too is the historical site and captivating Tom Mboya Mausoleum, where visitors come to pay tribute and learn about the man who shaped Kenya’s independence and labour movement.
The island has crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches and some of the best bird watching in the region.
Young boat operators, heritage tour guides and eco-lodge staff are turning Rusiga into a centre for history and leisure tourism.
Visitors can walk the paths Mboya once walked and experience lakeside hospitality run by local youth.
Around the mainland, beaches like Litare, Kendu Bay and Mbita are perfect for camping, sport fishing and cultural homestays managed by youth groups.
Migori’s cross-border opportunity
On the Tanzania border, Migori County is a cross-border trade and tourism hub waiting to explode.
Visit Mihuru Bay and explore the mysterious Mihuru Bay Caves, once used by early communities.
Young guides are being trained to narrate the oral histories while running kayaking and hiking tours.
At the border towns of Isebania and Sirare, youth are employed in hospitality, forex, transport and curio shops serving travellers from Tanzania, Uganda and beyond.
Up in the highlands, Kisii County is culture in motion.
The famous Kisii dances are energetic, colourful and deeply rooted, and are now being packaged for cultural festivals that employ young dancers, costume designers and event crews.
Tourists can climb Manga Ridge for panoramic views, visit the world-renowned Tabaka Soapstone Carvings where youth artisans sell directly to visitors, and explore the sacred Sameta Hills, also called the Hills of Blessings.
While in Kisii, near Kisii School is Kiong’anyo, a sacred hill believed to be where the great prophet Sakagwa stood as he prophesied about the great mushrooms — the blossoming and flourishing of Kisii town.
Here stands the current Humphreys Hill House, providing a vantage point over the upcoming Elkabah Ong’esa museum. It is very ideal for cultural researchers who want to understand Gusii history, spirituality and the roots of the town.
Not to mention Nsaria Hill near the home of Kisii County Governor Simba Arati, also known as Egetunwa Gie Chitengo Na Amatera — the hill of songs and dances.
It is a living stage where youth performers showcase culture and where tourists can experience authentic Gusii music under the open sky.
And then there’s the food.
Kisii and the entire region are blessed with bananas and avocados in plenty. From banana crisps to avocado smoothies, youth-run agri-tourism cafes are turning farm produce into gourmet experiences.
No story of Nyanza is complete without Obokano.
The eight-stringed lyre and its players are the soul of the Luo. Cultural centres are now hiring young Obokano players to perform for guests, teach workshops and record music for tourists to take home.
Turning tourism into youth employment
Tourism in Nyanza can create jobs that don’t require leaving home.
A 20-year-old can be a drone videographer for hotels in Kisumu. A graduate can run social media for Rusiga Island heritage tours or Kang’o Ka Jaramogi visits.
A group of friends can start a food tour featuring tilapia, ugali, managu and banana-based desserts. A dancer can perform at a hotel in Kisumu on Friday and at Nsaria Hill in Kisii on Sunday.
The government, counties and private sector are already investing in roads, broadband and skills training. What’s left is for young people to claim their space.
Foreigners looking for authentic Africa will find it here. Not in crowds, but in connection.
A boat ride at dawn on Lake Victoria. The sound of Obokano at sunset. A meal of fresh fish and avocado under an acacia tree. A visit to Rusiga Island to honour Tom Mboya. A walk through Kang’o Ka Jaramogi to feel the spirit of Jaramogi. A dance on Nsaria Hill, the hill of songs and dances.
Nyanza is not waiting to be discovered. It is ready to welcome you.
READ ALSO: Parents urged to take charge of children’s discipline as Malava’s veteran teacher retires after 39 years of service
And the youth are ready to host you.
Karibu Nyanza. Karibu Home.
By Enock Okong’o
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