Kisumu braces for song and dance as music festival begins

Hundreds of teachers and students will pitch tent in Kisumu for the next two weeks as the national music festival begins in the lakeside town Monday.

Kisumu is expected to host approximately 125,000 people trooping in for the 89th edition of the Kenya National Music Festival. 

This comes barely four months after the county hosted the second national devolution conference that brought together 6,000 delegates.

The music fete will be held at the Christ is the Answer Ministries (Citam), Lions High School, Kisumu Boys High School and  Kisumu Girls High School.

The business community is looking forward to reap big from the event.

Governor Jack Ranguma, the chairman of the business community Israel Agina and hoteliers William Orondo and Robinson Anyal said the county will do brisk business due to the number of people expected.

PREPARE TO HOST VISITORS

Mr Ranguma, speaking to the Nation by telephone Sunday, asked traders and the business community to prepare to host the visitors.

“Firms in the county made a lot of profit from the concluded second devolution conference.

"Let us now brace ourselves to reap more as we prepare to host more than 125,000 people,” said Mr Ranguma.

He said that improved security and availability of services makes the region a good host for events.

Mr Agina said the tourism sector in Kisumu is expanding because of improved security.

“Security in Kisumu is better compared to Nairobi and Mombasa which have been hit by Al-Shabaab.

"This explains why our city is attracting many meetings and investors,” Mr Agina added.

SECURITY

The chairman of western Kenya hospitality leaders association Robinson Anyal said various hotels in town have been booked.

But he said there was enough space to host the delegates.

Kisumu regional coordinator Francis Mutie assured participants of their security.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure that both the residents and visitors are safely guarded,” Mr Mutie said Sunday.

The competitors are classified in regions namely Metropolitan (Nairobi and environs), Nyanza, Aberdares (Central Kenya) Nzoia (Western Kenya), Nakuru (Rift Valley), Northern (Upper Eastern ), Mombasa (Coast) and Garissa (North Eastern).

The teams arrived at their accommodation venues Sunday.

The Education Ministry’s national coordinator Johnson Ikiungu confirmed that the teams will stay at Maseno School, Maseno Boarding, Kisumu Girls, Kisumu Day, Rae Girls, Ahero Girls and Otieno Oyoo secondary school.

Some of them will stay in Vihiga.

Universities and teachers training colleges will be hosted at Maseno University, Kisumu Polytechnic, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University, Eregi teachers and Kaimosi College.

Festival executive secretary Benson Abwao and national chairman  Peter Wanjohi said 45 adjudicators have been selected to judge the event.

The festival has grown even bigger with the entry of universities.

All the universities are given direct entry into the nationals.

Stories by Anita Chepkoech, Angela Oketch And Anthony Njagi