The Kisumu city economy is thriving as the Seventh County Assemblies Sports Association (CASA) Games and the just-concluded 2026 African Road Cycling Championships (CAC) bring in a large influx of visitors. Small-scale and middle-level businesses are reaping the benefits, with vendors selling a variety of merchandise, including food, clothes, hats, and caps.
Traders like Josephine Kamau, who traveled from Ongata Rongai to Kisumu, are capitalizing on the event to earn a living. Kamau sells hats and has been in the business for nearly five years, following events that attract large crowds to reach potential buyers. Her decision to travel to Kisumu demonstrates the lengths traders go to in pursuit of customers.
However, finding customers is not always easy, and Kamau faces challenges such as bargaining and uncertainty about daily sales. Despite these challenges, she remains optimistic, noting that she has never returned from her business trips completely empty-handed. The business has helped her educate her child and pay rent, achievements that have kept her committed to selling hats.
The sporting events have transformed Kisumu into a bustling economic hub, with street food and snack vendors positioning themselves near event venues to capitalize on the high food demand. Local vendors have reported a significant spike in average daily margins compared to standard operational weeks.
Food vendors, such as Michael Mickey, a Burundi national operating a "chapo-smokie" and egg stall, have experienced phenomenal growth during the event. Mickey's daily sales revenues increased from 500 shillings to 3,000 shillings, netting him up to 5,000 shillings in absolute profits.
The windfall was also felt by mobile refreshment sellers like Justin Mumbasi, an ice cream vendor who has been operating in the region since 2010. Mumbasi stated that the heavy congestion brought a unique lifeline to the local business community, allowing him to build his own house and a three-room home for his mother.
Kisumu Governor Professor Peter Anyang' Nyong'o noted that hosting high-profile continental games like the CAC championships and CASA games is central to rebuilding the regional economy. The county aims to turn sports into a wealth-generating avenue, attracting opportunities, strengthening the local economy, and directly improving the livelihoods of its people.
Key points
- The CASA Games and CAC Championships have boosted business in Kisumu, with small-scale traders and vendors experiencing a surge in sales.
- The events have transformed Kisumu into a bustling economic hub, with street food and snack vendors capitalizing on the high food demand.
- The county aims to turn sports into a wealth-generating avenue, attracting opportunities and improving the livelihoods of its people.
