{"id":137,"date":"2025-08-04T18:17:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T18:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/?p=137"},"modified":"2025-08-04T18:17:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T18:17:35","slug":"kisumu-area-library-a-potential-gem-dimming-in-the-shadows-of-neglect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/2025\/08\/04\/kisumu-area-library-a-potential-gem-dimming-in-the-shadows-of-neglect\/","title":{"rendered":"Kisumu Area Library: A Potential Gem Dimming in the Shadows of Neglect"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve always been one of those people who finds solace in libraries, the quiet nooks where knowledge blooms and ideas take root. While most folks are hunting for the nearest pub, movie theatre, or shopping mall when they land in a different place, I\u2019m on the lookout for the local library. In December, my travels took me to Kisumu, where I was eager to reconnect with the library that had once been my academic sanctuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, for many, the allure of the lakeside city is the sound of Ohangla music blaring from lively bars or the clink of ice in a cocktail glass or the sight of well-defined women derriere \u2013 which by the way, every single female in this town has \u2013 you might think the mothers use a template to make the structures. But for me, it\u2019s the stillness of a library, the promise of undisturbed time to think, read, and write. So, after a few days of enjoying the serene lake views, I decided it was time to visit the Kisumu National Library. A stone\u2019s throw from the bustling Kisumu CBD, it\u2019s tucked on Ochieng Road, next to the Grace Onyango Center. It lies opposite the RADO Complex, which thrives as a hive of boutiques and eateries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now, this isn\u2019t just any library. This place has a special history with me. During my undergraduate years, it became my second home. Later, as I pursued my postgraduate studies at the local university, the library\u2019s quiet refuge and trove of research materials helped me with the assignments and dive deep into academic texts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in the day, the place was always buzzing with different activities and people. There were researchers, book lovers, and students who flocked here to immerse themselves in learning. And while the parking lot used to fill up early with people eager to secure a spot, the compound itself was immaculate, with manicured lawns and tidy surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The library wasn\u2019t just a place to read; it was a cultural hub, hosting artistic events, spoken word nights, and even partnering with the American Embassy to promote local arts. The entire experience felt enriching.<\/p>\n\n\n

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But fast-forward to today, and Kisumu National Library is a shell of its former glory. A ruin. It\u2019s sad, really. As I walked in, the first thing that struck me was the neglect. The compound, once so neat and welcoming, is now overrun with wild, untamed shrubs and unkempt yards. Gone are the days of friendly security checks and polite gestures. In fact, I was allowed to walk right in with my bag \u2013 a rarity in most libraries. The once-vibrant spaces are now eerily quiet, with broken windows, flickering lights, and crumbling infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once inside, I was met with some readers chewing on mahindi choma<\/em> while escorting the same with unclear liquid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The restrooms, once sparkling, are now in disrepair, with peeling tiles and broken sinks. The shelves, once lined with fresh publications, now sit vacant, and the most recent newspaper was two weeks old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This library that was once a beacon of intellectual life is now a hollow monument to what it used to be. A haunting sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And here\u2019s the kicker: the parking lot? It\u2019s almost entirely empty. Not because there\u2019s no room, but because there\u2019s no interest in the space anymore. You won\u2019t find any new visitors clamouring to get in. The library\u2019s glory days seem like distant memories. And if we\u2019re not careful, this quiet corner of knowledge could fall victim to the same fate as many neglected public spaces\u2014being torn down to make way for another shopping mall or apartment complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But I\u2019m not ready to give up hope just yet. There\u2019s still potential here. The library remains stocked with a great selection of books\u2014if you dig deep enough through the disarray. The American Corner, a once-thriving section for young readers and students, is still in decent condition, despite the torn couch greeting you at the door. The space is large, with ample room for more events and activities, and there\u2019s still a treasure trove of untapped resources, from the ICT section to the wealth of literature gathering dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The problem is simple: neglect. The infrastructure is crumbling, the staff are few, and the security is non-existent. But these are all fixable issues. Kisumu County has the chance to breathe new life into this place\u2014to restore it to the vibrant community hub it once was. A little paint, some repairs, a solid security plan, and maybe even some revamped services like printing and internet access could transform this space. And hey, turning the ICT section into a functioning cybercaf\u00e9 could even generate some revenue to fund future upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If Kisumu\u2019s leadership can take a page out of the playbook used to revitalize the Kisumu Social Hall (remember when it was turned from a rundown hotspot where back street drug dealers peddle cheap drugs and sex workers paraded at night, into a thriving public space under Governor Nyong\u2019o?), the National Library could very well be the next success story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if we\u2019re not careful, if the neglect continues, the Kisumu National Library could soon be a fading memory. A sad reminder of what happens when we let the things that matter fall into disrepair. So, what\u2019s next for the Kisumu National Library? That\u2019s up to us. Let\u2019s not let this jewel of knowledge slip quietly into obscurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those who are curious, library services are a devolved service.  As part of the process of transferring pending multi-billion devolved powers, the National Government completed the transfer of 61 library services to counties in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the transfer of assets valued at millions of shillings and an additional Sh425 million to cover staff pay, the national government formally turned over the management of library services nationwide to the county governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve always been one of those people who finds solace in libraries, the quiet nooks where knowledge blooms and ideas take root. While most folks are hunting for the nearest pub, movie theatre, or shopping mall when they land in a different place, I\u2019m on the lookout for the local library. In December, my travels…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":154,"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137\/revisions\/154"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohagaohaga.co.ke\/new\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}