Kisumu is nestled on the sloping shore Winam Gulf of the Lake Victoria. It may be the third largest town of Kenya but its relaxed atmosphere is way different from that of Mombasa and Nairobi. Until the year 1977, the port happened to be one of busiest in Kenya. In the same year because of the political squabbling the port sat virtually idle for some 2 decades. Post that there was a decline set in which led to the collapse of the East African Community. The EAC was initially established by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania so as to come up with a common market within this region. Recently there has been an increase in the cooperation as well as the revival of the EAC that also includes Burundi and Rwanda. This in 2000 has also helped establish Kisumu as one international shipment point for the products of petroleum. Surprisingly the lake doesn’t play any part in this. So, despite the lake having been the life and blood for the inception of the Kisumu, the city still rests with its back to the water. None the less, the fortune of Kisumu is on a rise once again. This has led to a reduction in the impact of the water hyacinth. Hopefully, in the years to come Lake Victoria will again begin contributing to the economy of the Kisumu. So, play an active role in boosting the economy of Kisumu by making a visit to the town.
· Keep touts at bay.
· Do not entertain the beggars.
· Do not get involved in fights with the locals.
· Always carry only the amount of cash that you may need. Do not keep in your pockets excess cash.
· Do not trust anyone with your cash and valuables.
· Do not leave your cash and valuables in the hotel room.
· Ask about the room safe before you book any hotel.
· Carry with you at least one ID proof or a copy of your passport at all times.
· Do not let anyone mislead you. It is a good idea to gather sufficient information before you travel to any new destination.
· Make sure you dress in accordance with the values and the traditions prevalent there.
· Do not eat the street food without checking for the quality.
· If a particular place says, No Photography, adhere to it.
· Do not film without permission.
· Book a hotel in a renowned place only.
· Do not eat at the restaurants that have a poor reputation.
· Do not pass a racist comment on anyone.
· Do not hamper the cleanliness and the tranquility of the place.
· Do not get involved in drugs of any form.
· Drink only as much as you can handle.
The legal age for drinking in Kisumu is 18 years.