Kendu Bay Old Town revival plan ignites mixed reactions
Commercial buildings in Kendu Bay Old Town in Homa Bay County.
For more than three decades, Kendu Bay Old Town has remained in ruins, with few economic activities.
It has some of the oldest structures in South Nyanza, almost similar to the ancient buildings in Lamu and Mombasa Old Towns.
Kendu Bay Old Town and the Coast have some similarities, except that the lake region town appears abandoned.
During the Arab migration, the areas were business hubs. Kendu Bay began to grow in 1912, driven by trade and the desire by the Arabs to spread Islam.
However, when the government took the decision to build a road connecting Katito and Homa Bay and placed it a distance away from the Old Town several decades ago, traders shifted from where they were and built shops along the road, hoping to attract more travelling customers.
Kendu Bay Old Town became more isolated as residents moved to the junction connecting Oyugis, Kendu Bay and Homa Bay towns.
Structures that were once major business premises have fallen into disuse, with no one to repair them.
Some are so old that nature has reclaimed its place, with plants growing on concrete walls.
Some of the residential and commercial buildings in Kendu Bay Old Town in Homa Bay County.
Even with all these, the government says it is keen on investing in Kendu Bay.
Millions of shillings have been spent on a modern market in Old Town. This is in addition to drawing up plans to revive lake transport, with Kendu port identified as one of the sites to be rehabilitated.
The market project, being implemented under the Economic Stimulus Programme, is expected to revive economic activities in Kendu Bay.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo recently said the town is on a path to reclaiming its place as a vibrant centre of trade, tourism and fisheries-based enterprises.
“The government is making efforts to revive the blue economy and stimulate growth on the Lake Victoria front,” he said.
Construction of the market began in May last year, with the completion time being next month.
Once complete, traders will be encouraged to return to their original location.
Dr Omollo said work on the market is progressing well, with skimming and wiring underway ahead of painting.
He added that the market is designed to support a wide range of businesses.
The market will have an ICT hub, a fish coldroom, a lactating room, administrative offices, a children’s playground, a social hall, a kitchen and an ablution block.
“About 20 locals have been employed during the implementation of the project, many of them women and young people. We are committed to delivering the programme,” Dr Omollo said.
Commercial buildings in Kendu Bay Old Town in Homa Bay County.
Residents have welcomed the plan, saying it will decongest Kendu Bay Town.
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) Secretary Nuhu Masoud, a resident of the area, said he grew up witnessing the decline of Kendu Bay Old Town.
“I was born and raised in the Old Town, but my parents later shifted to Kosele when they realised that the town was not growing. The area has not experienced any meaningful development for years,” he told the Daily Nation.
According to Mr Masoud, the junction where many traders are based is a black spot.
Multiple road accidents have occurred at the junction. On some occasions, vehicles descending from Oyugis lose control.
“It is a T-junction. When speeding vehicles from the hill cannot make the turn, they plough into traders,” Mr Masoud said.
He urged the devolved government of Homa Bay to engage business owners and encourage them to return to the Old Town and minimise the risks of injuries and deaths at the junction.
“One way of encouraging traders to move to the Old Town is by redirecting public service vehicles there. Some traders are at the junction because they target commuters,” he said.
However, traders interviewed are not sure business will thrive in the new market.
Ms Razia Adhiambo, an official at the market, said traders were once moved to the Old Town to ease congestion at the junction. She added that those who had moved were not happy with the decision and returned to the main road.
“Apart from getting a few customers, our goods were being stolen. The traders who had been moved chose to go back to the road,” she said.
She said creating a matatu terminal in the Old Town would encourage traders to move there.
“Commuters on the Katito-Homa Bay road promote most businesses here,” she said.
According to Ms Adhiambo, many buyers at the junction are travellers who have no time to visit the Old Town if vehicles are not diverted there.
In addition to trade, Kendu Bay Old Town was an entertainment hub. People from different parts of the country would gather at the agricultural showground for music concerts every year.
The Ministry of Agriculture would host an annual farming exhibition to educate locals on new production practices.
That changed when devolution came into force and the county government of Homa Bay scaled back the event.
Governor Gladys Wanga presided over the World Food Day at the grounds last month and announced the revival of the fair.
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