New investments change the face of Kisumu estate

The Pramukh Enterprises store, one of the new investments in Kisumu’s Kondele business district. Photo/Jacob Owiti  Nation Media Group

By Silas Apollo

In Summary

• One such businessman, James Angoye, who owns a chain of retail shops in the area as well as a wholesale store, attributes the rush to set up shop in the areas to the growth in population. It is home to many low-income families and youths in Kisumu.
• The increased interest by investors is further driven by the fact that Kondele also serves as a central location to six major estates in Kisumu. These include Migosi, Manyatta, Mambo Leo, Kenya Re, Riat Hills and Kibos.
• Other factors that have contributed to the increased development of business in the area is new infrastructure that has eased the movement of goods and services.

New business establishments are changing the face of Kisumu’s Kondele estate that has for a long time been perceived as a violence hotspot in the lakeside city.

The sprawling slum has been attracting negative headlines owing to the large number of idle youths who are often associated with crime, but this is changing thanks to an influx of private investors.

One such businessman, James Angoye, who owns a chain of retail shops in the area as well as a wholesale store, attributes the rush to set up shop in the areas to the growth in population. It is home to many low-income families and youths in Kisumu.

“Given the rapid growth of the population due to rural-urban migration, one cannot afford to ignore the market potential,” said Mr Angoye.

A resident, Ms Pamela Adhiambo, says the shanty has changed into “a small city” which hosts various industrial projects, big supermarkets, tarmac roads and local training institutions, among other facilities.

‘‘New businesses, banking, health care facilities among other services have been established in the area,’’ she quips.

So far, the slum boasts three fully- equipped hospitals with the latest entrant being the Avenue hospital which joins the league of Aga Khan Hospital. The other is the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga teaching and referral hospital.

According to Avenue Hospital Regional Manager Ms Vicky Okoth, Kondele has one of the fastest-growing population in the lakeside city, with corresponding demand for health services.

Banks have not been left behind as the financiers move to tap money circulating in the area. The Co-operative Bank was the first financier to put up a branch.

Mr Mahesh Patel, the proprietor of Pramukh supermarket which has joined the Tumaini chains of supermarket in the area says the increased interest by investors is further driven by the fact that Kondele also serves as a central location to six major estates in Kisumu. These include Migosi, Manyatta, Mambo Leo, Kenya Re, Riat Hills and Kibos.

“Given its strategic location, we are able to serve diverse clientele from the other six estates. This shows how strategic the location of this place is,” he said.

READ: Investors dash for Kondele despite link to insecurity

Other factors that have contributed to the increased development of business in the area is new infrastructure that has eased the movement of goods and services.

The government through the Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) is currently building the Kericho-Kisumu flyover that links Kisumu city through Kondele, a project that is viewed as a major step towards easing traffic flow in Kisumu especially from major towns like Nairobi.

According to Kenha managing director Michael Kidenda, the building of the road which started in 2012, is expected to be completed later this year and that the terminal would serve as a major entrance point to Kisumu through Kondele.