By Monica Nashon
Kisumu’s hospitality, tourism and transport sectors are stepping up preparations to welcome hundreds of delegates expected in the lakeside city for the World Talent Conference 2026.
The conference, scheduled for October 26 to 30, 2026, will bring together visitors expected to require accommodation, transport, food and tourism services, providing local businesses with an opportunity to showcase what Kisumu has to offer.
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The African Talent University (TATU) is among the official venues for the international conference.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at TATU, World Talent Federation Secretary General and TATU Founder and Sponsor Prof Humphrey Oborah said the conference would be a major event for Africa as the continent seeks to identify, celebrate and develop talent among young people and professionals.
Prof Oborah said Africa had not hosted a conference of this nature since 1961, adding that the time had come for the continent to showcase its wealth of talent.
He said the conference would focus on Africans with abilities that could help transform the world, noting that people are born with different talents spanning areas such as environmental conservation, football, animal husbandry, music and other fields.
“We are looking at Africans that have the potential to change the world,” said Prof Oborah.
He urged Kisumu stakeholders to prepare adequately for the conference, saying the expected influx of delegates would create demand for services across the hospitality, tourism and transport sectors.
For local businesses, the conference is not only about hosting visitors but also about opening new economic opportunities.
Robert Ayoko, Secretary General of the Lake Victoria Tourism Association, thanked Prof Oborah for bringing the conference to Kisumu, saying the event would create opportunities for businesses across the region.
Ayoko said the tourism sector was ready to work with other stakeholders to ensure delegates have a good experience during their stay in Kisumu.
Similarly, Ann Wanjiru, Operations and Business Development Manager at WaterPass, said businesses in Kisumu were looking forward to the conference and the opportunity to demonstrate what the city has to offer.
“We look forward to this talent conference and we look forward to hosting you and seeing what Kisumu is made of,” she said.
Hotels are also anticipating increased business during the conference.
Nolter Sandy, Group Sales Representative of Royal Group of Hotels, said the event would give hotels an opportunity to increase their revenue and income.
Royal Group operates three hotels—Royal City Garden Milimani, Grand Royal Seas and Royal City Hotel in the town—which are expected to benefit from increased demand for accommodation, food and other hospitality services.
Sandy said hotels and other businesses in the hospitality industry stood to gain from the expected increase in visitors during the five-day conference.
The stakeholders agreed to work closely with the World Talent Conference Secretariat, TATU and the Kisumu County Government to ensure the city is adequately prepared to host the international event.
The conference will be held under the theme “My Talent, My Brand!” and will seek to promote talent, innovation, enterprise and practical skills.
Prof Oborah said the event would give Kisumu an opportunity to market itself as a conference, tourism and investment destination, potentially leaving the city with benefits that extend beyond the five-day gathering.
