Fish trade: tilapia and omena, wholesale to retail
trading KSh 100,000 estimated to start
+
See the cost breakdown
- Opening fish stock (tilapia + omena) KSh 45,000
- Chest freezer / cool boxes KSh 30,000
- Weighing scale, basins, racks KSh 8,000
- Stall space deposit (rate unverified) KSh 8,000
- Transport link + float KSh 9,000
- Total KSh 100,000
- Likely earning
- Estimate: Kibuye fish mongers commonly clear at least KSh 5,000 a day from lake stock; a stocked stall can run KSh 3,000 to 8,000 a day, seasonal with supply.
- Difficulty
- ●●●○○ Cold chain and spoilage make or break it; supply from landing sites is variable.
- Competition
- High competition. Fish is Kisumu's core trade, so differentiate on freshness and reliability.
- Time to first customer
- Same day
- Best areas in Kisumu
- Kibuye Market, Dunga beach, Jubilee Market, Kondele, Nyamasaria roadside
- Licence
- County Single Business Permit (Kisumu Finance Act 2026 figure to confirm); public health / food handling permit KSh 3,000 to 8,000 a year.
M-Pesa sub-agent + airtime + bill payments
services KSh 100,000 estimated to start
+
See the cost breakdown
- Float KSh 60,000
- SIM / till setup + branding KSh 8,000
- Counter, safe, chair KSh 15,000
- Rent deposit KSh 10,000
- Permit portion + signage KSh 7,000
- Total KSh 100,000
- Likely earning
- Estimate: agents earn tiered commission per transaction. At this band start as a SUB-agent under an existing agent; a full standalone line needs ~KSh 100,000 as float alone.
- Difficulty
- ●●●○○ Float management and fraud or security risk.
- Competition
- High competition. Many agents per street.
- Time to first customer
- 1 to 7 days (onboarding)
- Best areas in Kisumu
- Kondele, Kibuye entrances, Nyalenda, Manyatta, the Kisumu CBD stage
- Licence
- County Single Business Permit; Safaricom agent onboarding (no county fee for a sub-agent beyond the permit).
Small cyber cafe and printing bureau (3-PC version)
services KSh 100,000 estimated to start
+
See the cost breakdown
- 3 refurbished PCs KSh 45,000
- Multifunction printer / scanner / copier KSh 25,000
- Furniture + cabling KSh 12,000
- Router + first internet KSh 5,000
- Permit portion KSh 8,000
- Stationery stock KSh 5,000
- Total KSh 100,000
- Likely earning
- Estimate: printing at KSh 10 to 50 a page at high margin, government e-services drive steady footfall, KSh 1,000 to 3,000 a day. A fuller 5-PC setup is nearer KSh 250,000.
- Difficulty
- ●●●○○ Basic IT skill needed; power reliability matters.
- Competition
- Medium competition. Clusters near colleges and government offices.
- Time to first customer
- 1 to 3 days
- Best areas in Kisumu
- Near Maseno and KMTC campuses, Kisumu CBD (Oginga Odinga Street), Huduma Centre vicinity, Kondele
- Licence
- County Single Business Permit (Kisumu figure to confirm); printing / internet licence noted around KSh 5,000 to 10,000 elsewhere.
Used boda boda (motorcycle taxi)
transport KSh 100,000 estimated to start
+
See the cost breakdown
- Clean used Bajaj Boxer KSh 90,000
- Helmet + reflective jacket KSh 3,000
- First insurance + registration transfer KSh 5,000
- SACCO / stage joining KSh 2,000
- Total KSh 100,000
- Likely earning
- Estimate: KSh 800 to 1,500 a day net after fuel on a busy route (rough market estimate). A new Boxer is ~KSh 199,980, out of band, so a used unit is the fit here.
- Difficulty
- ●●○○○ Easy to enter; rider discipline and bike maintenance decide profit.
- Competition
- High competition. Boda is saturated, so route and stage choice matter.
- Time to first customer
- Same day
- Best areas in Kisumu
- Kondele, Nyamasaria, Mamboleo, Nyalenda, Manyatta, rural feeder routes off the CBD
- Licence
- Motorcycle registration + valid rider licence + boda SACCO / county stage compliance (county boda charges vary, confirm with Kisumu County). A lawyer only if buying on a logbook or loan contract.
Cereals and dry-goods shop (rice, beans, maize, groundnuts)
retail KSh 100,000 estimated to start
+
See the cost breakdown
- Opening bulk stock (rice, beans, ndengu, groundnuts, maize) KSh 65,000
- Weighing scale, tins, sacks KSh 8,000
- Shelving + counter KSh 10,000
- Rent deposit KSh 10,000
- Permit portion KSh 7,000
- Total KSh 100,000
- Likely earning
- Estimate: 10 to 20% on cereals, higher on rice and groundnuts, KSh 1,000 to 3,000 a day net.
- Difficulty
- ●●○○○ Simple, but cash ties up in stock, watch weevils and spoilage.
- Competition
- High competition. Medium to high, a staple trade.
- Time to first customer
- Same day
- Best areas in Kisumu
- Kibuye, Jubilee Market, Kondele, Nyalenda, Nyamasaria
- Licence
- County Single Business Permit (Kisumu figure to confirm).
Egg distribution / depot (buy from farms, supply kiosks)
trading KSh 100,000 estimated to start
+
See the cost breakdown
- Opening stock ~150 trays KSh 45,000
- Transport / bicycle carrier KSh 20,000
- Storage racks + crates KSh 10,000
- Rent deposit KSh 10,000
- Permit portion + float KSh 15,000
- Total KSh 100,000
- Likely earning
- Estimate: eggs KSh 300 to 400 a tray retail; small resellers earn ~KSh 50 a tray, so ~50 trays a day is about KSh 2,500 a day.
- Difficulty
- ●●○○○ Logistics and breakage control; low skill otherwise.
- Competition
- Medium competition. Steady, unglamorous, reliable.
- Time to first customer
- 1 to 3 days (line up buyers first)
- Best areas in Kisumu
- Supply Kibuye, Kondele, Manyatta, Nyalenda kiosks, eateries and schools
- Licence
- County Single Business Permit; no health cert for shell eggs, but a food-premises permit applies if you add a fixed depot.