Kakamega: The Misango Hills Community Forest Association (CFA) is planning to introduce a snake park and a zip line at Misango Hills Forest, an initiative aimed at boosting ecotourism and conservation. Speaking to KNA in Kakamega town, the Association chairman Sylvanos Omurunga stated that these initiatives will serve as tourist attractions benefiting the surrounding community members, even as they continue to rehabilitate and preserve the forest. The forest is situated in Khwisero and spans approximately 103.7 hectares. This move by Misango Hills CFA aligns with the county government of Kakamega’s strategy to promote tourism and cultural heritage as a way of empowering local communities.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Chief Officer for Culture, Social Services and Gender, Christine Oside, emphasized the county government’s commitment to revitalizing the tourism industry, which remains largely untapped. During her vetting before the County Assembly mid this year, Oside highlighted her priorities, includ
ing advocating for the Nabongo Mumia Kingdom’s listing as a world heritage site and the recognition of bullfighting as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Isikuti dance, practiced by the Idakho and Isukha communities in Kakamega, has already been inscribed by UNESCO on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.
Oside further disclosed the county’s plans to engage herbalists, with 14 herbal medicinal assets identified and nearing validation with the Natural Products Industry, a Vision 2030 initiative led by the National Museums of Kenya. The validation process involves documenting herbal formulations, conducting scientific testing, and verifying their safety and efficacy before certification and commercialization through the Indigenous Knowledge Innovation Bank, under the Digitisation of Indigenous Knowledge programme. ‘We have also been able to strike a deal with the Kenya Bureau of Standards to test “Mumu Mufume”. Once approved, we hope to expand its production so t
hat our people can benefit from it,’ she said. Mumu Mufume is a traditional type of salt made from certain types of burnt plants and is commonly used in cooking traditional vegetables.
Earlier this year, Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa announced plans to roll out a Bullfighting Premier League starting in 2026, with the winner set to receive Sh200,000, as part of the county’s broader strategy to promote local culture and grow the sports tourism sector. ‘In the Bullfighting Premier League, we call upon other stakeholders to come on board and help us showcase it,’ Oside noted. She added that to promote cultural activities, the county government will also begin holding annual cultural festivals.