Sights in Kisumu

KIT MIKAYI.

The rock is situated in Kisumu district, Maseno division, East – Seme – location, Kit – Mikayi sub-location, Kangeso village, Kadol clan. The rock which is about 70 to 80 ft tall is located 30km far East of Kisumu city and 1 km from Kisumu Bondo road. The sign board is on the gate of Kit Mikayi primary school then you enter through N’gop-Ngeso primary school. The legendary story behind Kit Mikayi which in Luo dialect means “the stone of the first wife” is that: Long time ago, there was an old man by the name Ngeso who was in great love with the stone. Every day when he woke up in the morning, he could walk into the cave inside the stone and stay there the whole day, and this could force his wife to bring him breakfast and lunch everyday. The old man became passionately in love with this stone to the extent that people ask the wife his whereabouts, she could answer that he has gone to his first wife (Mikayi) hence the stone of the first wife (Kit Mikayi). More further explanation about this unique stone is that according to its feature and components, the structure represents the Luo cultural polygamous family which had the first wife’s house (Mikayi) built further in between on the right hand side was the second wife’s house (Nyachira) while the third wife’s house (Reru) was built on the left hand side of the homestead. This rock also is seen to have a nuclear family whereby the father (Ngeso) being the middle stone followed by the bulky Mikayi (first wife), then Nyachira (second wife) followed by Reru (third wife) and further in front they have the child which is representing Simba (which is the house for the first born boy in the homestead). From a long time, this stone has been a sacred place for the villagers to worship during the trying moment.

IMPALLA PARK.

This game reserve is situated next to the shore of lake victoria,almost 50m from the shore.it borders sunset hotel one of the five star in the region.it has ample of animals namely gazzell,hyena,leopard,ostrich and birds of defferent kinds.it is also situated along the road to Dunga beach and opposite is tom mboya labour college known for holding seminors and labour courses in East Africa.the place is very quite with a muximum security from the game department.

NDERE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

It is only 4.2sq kms an island just off the northern shore of Lake Victoria, opened in November 1986. Ndere means ‘Meeting Place’ in the language of the local Luo tribe. According to Luo folklore, Kit Mikayi, mother of the tribe, rested up near Ndere after her long journey south down the Nile Valley. She found the lush shoreline so pleasing that she and her people stayed.

It is home to a variety of birds including fish eagles and a dense population of swifts. Hippo and crocodiles, including the lesser known Spotted Crocodiles, are a familiar sight. 50 impala have been introduced to the woodland which fringes the shores.

Attractions include hiking, walking, traditional fishing, boat safaris and picnics.

KISUMU MUSEUM

Kisumu Museum is located in Kisumu town along the Kisumu - Kericho highway. It was opened to the public in 1980.The museum stores and disseminates information on cultural and scientific issues with emphasis on Western Kenya. Exhibits include cultural history. The museum provides educational services to schools in its neighbourhood.

Striking features of the museum include a diverse collection of flora and fauna species. The most notable animals are reptiles and amphibians, collected from Nyanza and neighbouring provinces. A traditional Luo homestead and other traditional Luo artifacts constitute part of the exhibits the museum keeps.

Research activities also feature prominently. In recent years, the Kisumu museum has participated in multinational investigation on limnology (a scientific characteristic of fresh water lakes) of Lake Victoria conducted from the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) at Mbita in Kisumu.

Kisumu museum is also a gravity point for seminars and workshops both international and local. Attached toKisumu museum are a number of sites and monuments of historical significance including Fort Tenan, Songhor, Thimlich Ohinga and Rusinga Islands.

SIMBI NYAIMA

Simbi Nyaima means the village that sank. Simbi Nyaima is actually a crater lake a few kilometers from the shores of Lake Victoria. The Luo attach great importance to the site because of the legendary story. It is said that the people of Simbi were celebrating their success at the chief?s home. An old woman appeared at the scene looking for shelter and food. But the chief threatened to beat her up if she stayed. She was forced to leave and one lady sympathized with her and gave her food and a warm bath. She advised the kind lady to leave the village with all her children and husband.

No sooner had they left than a heavy storm swept the whole village and it sank. The locals believe it happened in the olden days.

RUMA NATIONAL PARK

Ruma National Park, formerly Lambwe Valley National Reserve, was established in 1966 but is one of the least visited parks in Kenya. Ruma National Park was established mainly to protect the Roan antelope, which are only found in this part of the country. On the border of Ruma National Park is the Kanyamaa Escarpment, this area is suited to rock climbing. Other wildlife found within the park includes oribi, Jacksons Hartebeest, Rothschild giraffe, cheetah and leopard.

Over 145 different bird species have been recorded in Ruma National Park including the fish eagle and white egret. The globally threatened Blue Swallow is seen here regularly as it arrives from its breeding ground in Tanzania.