Namanda Nasila, secretary general of the Bungoma Hoteliers Association(in white shirt) flanked by other association members …Photo by Tim Wekesa.
By Timothy Wekesa.
BUNGOMA, Kenya .
Bungoma County has been identified as a region with significant potential to develop tourism and uplift residents’ living standards.
Pius Masinde, director of Royal Suites Hotel, noted that the county already has advanced hotel facilities capable of hosting visitors from various regions—a strength that bolsters the hospitality and tourism industry.
However, Masinde emphasized that hotels alone cannot drive growth.
They rely on local activities, tourist attractions, and public-private partnerships to market Bungoma’s assets to a global audience.
“People come for other activities and use our hotel services, so we are highly dependent on an active tourism environment to get customers,” he said.
Namanda Nasila, secretary general of the Bungoma Hoteliers Association, echoed this sentiment.
He stressed that making the county more attractive to visitors is essential to sustaining the hospitality industry.
Bungoma County Tourism Chief Executive Committee Member Andrew Wamalwa acknowledged that the county’s tourism potential remains underutilized.
He urged stakeholders to focus on promoting local attractions rather than looking outside the county.
“In terms of hotels, Bungoma ranks third in the Lake Region Economic Bloc after Kisumu and Kisii,” Wamalwa said. “This means we can use the sector to transform the county economically.”
Promoting tourism sites, he added, would boost revenue and create job opportunities for local professionals.
Some of Bungoma’s key attractions include the Elephant Maternity at Mount Elgon Game Park, Nabuyole Waterfalls, and the ancient footprints at Sang’alo.
The county also offers a rich variety of local foods and the vibrant cultures of the Bukusu and Sabaot communities.
The comments were made during a consultative tourism forum held in Bungoma town.
Attendees were encouraged to visit Bungoma during the Christmas season.
Also present was Germany-based entrepreneur Lucky Mueni, who highlighted Bungoma’s potential to market tourism as a leading export.
Recent data underscores the county’s untapped potential.
The Bungoma County Department of Tourism has profiled 21 tourist sites across the region, aiming to document and digitize these attractions to enhance their visibility and appeal.
Despite these efforts, residents perceive that Bungoma has generated limited revenue from tourism activities, indicating a need for more robust marketing and infrastructure development.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua, during his visit to Bungoma, emphasized the importance of developing cultural experiences to attract tourists and benefit local economies.
He cited Bungoma’s rich cultural heritage, including local songs, dances, and cuisine, as areas that could draw visitors if properly harnessed.
By leveraging these cultural and natural assets, Bungoma County has the opportunity to position itself as a premier tourist destination in Kenya, thereby boosting economic growth and improving the livelihoods of its residents.
Ends.
