travel: within Kisumu

last update 1 May 2007, sophy

on foot
-what it is: walking along the hot dusty roads; great for exercise and seeing the town!
-risks: watch out for crossing roads and vehicles that get too close to you (stick to the foot paths)
-cost: free!



boda bodas (bicycle taxis)
-what it is: Kenyan men (i've never seen a woman boda boda driver) riding big bikes outiftted with nice passenger cushions, handlebars and foot rests in the back; good for seeing the town a little faster and supporting microenterprise by young previously unemployed men.
-risks: no helmet, fast speeds downhill with questionable brakes, inconsistent bicycling skills- but safer than riding a bike without a helmet in China!
-how to find one: they are all over town, scouring the roads for riders; just hail one down on a decent sized road if one doesn't come to you quickly
-cost: 30-50 Ksh (30 in town, 50 to go a bit outside of town in Milimani)


tuk tuks (3-wheeled vehicles)
-what it is: a covered, motorized, diesel-powered vehicle with headlights and trunk space that can carry 3 passengers (though most try to fit more); good for relatively cheap rides home after shopping at the market or in town
-risks: no seat belts, small size means that a collision would be painful
-how to find one: mostly on the main roads in Kisumu, such as Oginga Odinga Road and Jomo Kenyatta Ave; you can easily find them next to shopping centers in town; you can also get the phone number of one if you ask a driver who now knows where you live (if he has a cell phone)
-cost: 50 Ksh in town, 100 Ksh beyong town (such as in Milimani)


matatus
-what it is: mini-vans with decent road clearance which provide most of the "public transportation" in Kenya, even though they are privately owned. Can carry about 15-20 people, though by Kenyan law everyone should have a seatbelt on. Used to cost 3 shillings, hence the name "tatu," which also means "three."
-risks: most people don't wear seatbelts, and they are frequently overstuffed with people hanging out the doors. There have been isolated cases of people getting thrown out of matatus that suddenly stop and having sever injuries (some fatal), which is why the seatbelt law happened in 2004).
-where to find one: matatu stand in town; certain main intersections on Oginga Odinga Road and Jomo Kenyatta Ave, such as the Mega Mall and United Mall
-cost: 10 Ksh in town; 20-50 Ksh beyond town, depending on where you're going


taxis
-what it is: like everywhere else, dudes (i haven't seen a woman taxi driver here yet) driving sedans. In Nairobi, stick to the official taxis with the circle logo on the car; there is no such designation that I know of in Kisumu.
-risks: getting ripped off by an unauthorized taxi
-where to find one: most folks in Kisumu have cell phone numbers of reliable taxis they call directly, such as: 0727-172-825 or Easy Cabs (director: George Kimani) at 0725-434485.
-cost: 100-200 Ksh in town; 200-300 Ksh beyond town, such as in outer Milimani


buses
-the safest bus companies that serve Kisumu include Easy Coach and Eldoret Express, which are fairly reliable but very slow
-these are mainly to get out of town, so refer to the other travel sections for further details