- ECO-LODGE
- HERITAGE TOURISM SITES
- CABLE CAR IN KAKAMEGA
- ANIMAL ORPHANAGE AND SNAKE PARK
- THEME/AMUSEMENT PARK
- ULTRA MODERN THEATRE
- INCENTIVES FOR INVESTMENT
The project is to be located within Kakamega Tropical Rain Forest, Shinyalu Sub-County
Served by Kakamega-Kisumu highway and Nairobi, Kisumu and Eldoret International Airports. Adequate electricity, water and financial infrastructure as well as skilled human capital. Heritage, cultural and, nature sites, Isukuti dance and bull sport ensure diverse tourism and recreational activities.
Average target visitor to the site per day is 200 per day. The facility shall foster MICE promotion. Upon completion the facility is expected to attract visitors from Kakamega County, Lake Region Economic Block (LREB), Kenya and internationally.
Financing options should be clear either Debt/Joint Venture/Private Investor and estimated cost is Kenya Shillings Eight Hundred Million (Kes.800,000,000)
The identified revenue sources are user fees and taxes to include but not limited to entry fees, concession fees, recreational activity fees, taxes on hiring space, hotel room surcharges, revenues from commercial ventures of site services etc.
There are currently 6 gazetted heritage tourism sites in Kakamega County. These are Mawe Tatu hills, Mugai stones and caves, Kambiri Hills, Ikhongo Murwi, Misango Hills and Nabongo Shrines. The sites are in Likuyani, Malava, Shinyalu sub-counties, Khwisero and Matungu sub-counties.
The sites targets both domestic and international tourism. Population of County of Kakamega is 1.86 million, LREB population is 14 million while Kenya’s population is 47.6 million
They are served by Kakamega-Kisumu and Eldoret-Malaba highways; well-maintained all-weather roads; Kisumu and Eldoret International Airports. Electricity and financial services are available. The sites have classified hotels within close proximity and other tourism and recreational activities. There is supply of water services and adequate professional human capital. Isukuti dance, bull sport, diverse attractions
Average target visitor to the sites per day is 200 per day. Upon completion the sites are expected to attract visitors from Kakamega County, Lake Region Economic Block (LREB), Kenya and internationally.
Financing options should be clear either debt/joint venture/private investor.
Identified revenue sources in the form of tourism-based user fees and taxes to include but not limited to entry fees, concession fees, recreational activity fees, taxes on hiring space, hotel room surcharges, revenues from commercial ventures of site services, etc.
County Government of Kakamega is seeking to establish a cable car and guarantee travellers a birds eye view in the densely covered Kakamega Forest, Mawe Tatu Hills and Misango Hills located in shinyalu, Likuyani and Khwisero sub-counties respectively.
The cable car, unique in the region, will diversify tourism products, improve number of travellers to the county, travel experience and the tourism destination competitiveness of Kakamega county.
The cable car is to be designed to provide travelers with unique experience at strategic points in the forest at waterfalls, hills, nature trails and camp sites.
There shall be the investment opportunities that include adventure cycling and drives within the forest to compliment activities of the cable car and nature walks.
With the provision of an eco-lodge in Kakamega forest, the cable car is envisioned to have high return on investment
The Animal Orphanage and Snake Park will enhance environmental conservation and awareness.
The animal orphanage and snake park is to be located within Kakamega town, the seat of Kakamega County on a select 15 acres of land.
This will safeguard wildlife species existing within Kakamega forest and other equatorial inhabiting species.
The entire western region has no such facility with a population catchment of over 6 million people.
The target market is educational and research group, recreational nature-loving groups and holiday travellers.
Kakamega county and indeed, the Lake Basin Economic Block, Kenya and in extension East African region lacks a world class facility theme/amusement park.
Establishment of such facility in Kakamega county will thus have a target market of over million people from East Africa.
The park will attract an average 30 million visitors annually with a gross income of US$2.85 million.
This is to be established on land to be supplied by the County Government.
The ultra-modern theatre is to be used for development of films, provision of both live and recorded entertainment and an institution to train film and art personnel from East Africa region.
With a tier up and fan-shaped sitting of 8,000 people is to guarantee views of the stage activities. It will be equipped with high-definition screens, large scale projection, seamless connectivity for plenary through large conventions besides first rate audio technology and equipment.
Rich sites including Kakamega forest, numerous caves, hills and rivers as well as large rural setting with rich culture, heritage, history and economy is ideal for film and art industry.
Large pool of educated and talented actors enriched with an attraction of global ones.
A population of over 10 million from the Economic Block and able to attract the market from entire Kenya and East Africa, over 1.9 million visitors and a gross annual revenue of $200 million US dollars is expected to be realised.
The County Government of Kakamega is committed to growing and supporting investment in the tourism sector. The CIDP and tourism policy gives priority of tourism products earmarked for development.
Incentives for domestic and foreign investment include:
- Provision of land for the development of tourism projects.
- Assistance in the registration process of the select tourism business ventures.
- Waiver of Business permits for a definite duration.
- Undertake pre-feasibility studies and Environmental Impact Assessment where necessary.
- Market and promote the tourism ventures.