Boost for Kisumu's hospitality industry ahead of devolution conference

The Kisumu hospitality industry is set for a major boost when it hosts at least 6,000 delegates for the second annual devolution conference beginning Wednesday.

The conference, which will officially be opened by president Uhuru Kenyatta, is scheduled to run until this Friday.

The event will attract thousands of delegates including the country’s 47 governors and members of county assemblies. Regional police commander Willys Lugusa yesterday said that more than 300 police officers had been deployed to provide security at the event.

Interviews with players in the industry revealed that top hotels such as Imperial, Royal city, Kisumu (Maseno University), Sovereign Hotel among other big names in the region had been booked to capacity for the duration of the conference.

County officials were on Monday engaged in last minute attempts to secure the few spaces that were still available in other establishments.

The chairman of the Western Kenya Hotel managers association Robinson Anyal confirmed that all the standard hotels in the area were fully booked.

“We are now referring guests to other counties,” said Mr Anyal.

The hotelier asked guests not to worry about staying in the neighbouring counties, adding that they would be referred to facilities that meet the required industry standards.

“Kisumu is accessible from Homa Bay, Kakamega, Vihiga and Siaya. The roads are good and visitors should not be worried about travelling to Kisumu town when they lodge out there,” he said.

Deputy president William Ruto and council of governors chairman Isaac Ruto are among top leaders scheduled to speak at the three day event meant to take stock of the gains and challenges of devolution.

The visit is significant because it is the first time the President is touring the county which is considered home turf of Opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Mr Kenyatta’s last visit to the town was a stopover at the Kisumu International Airport last year while on his way to the memorial of Musalia Mudavadi’s father in neighbouring Vihiga county.

Yesterday, county government officials erected portraits of President Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto as well as those of all governors on main Kisumu streets.

Key roads have also been patched up for the meeting to be held at the historic Tom Mboya Labour College.

Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma rallied called on residents to welcome the president to the town.

“We are asking all Kisumu residents to turn up and welcome the President and my colleague governors from other counties. The security teams have assured us that they are on top of things,” said Mr Ranguma.

“We are hoping to use the conference to showcase our region as a major tourist and investment hub,” he added.