Thrills, cheers as Drift Show takes over Kisumu CBD

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Kisumu’s central business district burst into colour, noise and excitement on Saturday as hundreds of residents thronged the streets to witness a thrilling car drift show currently underway as part of the Kisumu End of Year Festival (KEYFEST).

From early morning, crowds gathered at the Kisumu Central Square, with joy, laughter and cheers filling the air as powerful engines roared and skilled drivers showcased daring drifting stunts. The event transformed the city centre into a hub of entertainment, drawing families, youths and motorsport enthusiasts eager to close the year in style.

Kisumu County Executive Committee Member for Trade and Tourism Farida Salim said the event marks the first-ever Kisumu City Drift Show, organised through a partnership between the City of Kisumu, the Department of Trade and Tourism, and Alhusnain Motors.

“We are excited to be here at Kisumu Central Square to introduce the first-ever Kisumu City Drift Show,” Salim said.

“When we first discussed bringing this idea on board, there was a lot of uncertainty because it is something new. But looking at the excitement on people’s faces today, it is clear that Kisumu residents have fully embraced it.”

She said the county now plans to grow the initiative into an annual event and expand its tourism offerings by introducing new attractions.

“This is a new tourism product for Kisumu. During Tourism Week, we introduced tree therapy in Seme, and this drift show is another new product. As we enter the new year, we are also exploring the possibility of skydiving after benchmarking with Diani,” Salim said, adding that the county will continue partnering with private players and the media to showcase Kisumu as a tourism destination.

One of the drivers, Jim Lu from CrabMen East Africa, said the event was meant to introduce motorsport drifting to Kisumu residents while also showcasing the beauty of the lakeside city.

“Many people here have never seen drifting before. We came to show how exciting motorsport can be and also to show how beautiful Kisumu and Lake Victoria are,” he said.

Residents who attended the event expressed excitement and appreciation for the unique entertainment. Peter Otieno, a boda boda operator in the city, said such events are rare in Kisumu.

“This is something we rarely see here. The show is exciting and well organised, and it’s good to see the county bringing entertainment closer to the people. It makes the city feel alive,” he said.

Brian Ouma, a university student, said watching drifting live was a different experience altogether.

“I’ve been following car drifting online, but seeing it live is on another level. The skills are amazing, and events like this give young people a positive way to enjoy the holidays,” he said.

Traders also benefited from the large turnout. Mary Achieng, who runs a small business in the CBD, said sales had increased.

“The crowds are good for business. I’ve sold more bottled water and snacks than on a normal day, and the atmosphere is happy and peaceful. I hope the county can organise more events like this,” she said.

To allow for the safe staging of the show, Kisumu County announced temporary road closures within the CBD. In a public notice, City Manager Abala Wanga said the motorsport showcase required the closure of several key road sections to ensure public safety and smooth coordination of the event.

A section of the Nairobi Road Highway was closed to all vehicular traffic from 11 am to noon, while sections of Oginga Odinga Street and Ang’awa Avenue were closed from to facilitate event setup, performances and crowd management.

Wanga said the closures were necessary to allow organisers to conduct the car drift show in a controlled environment while minimising risks to motorists, pedestrians and spectators.

“The safety of the public is our top priority. These temporary measures are meant to ensure the event runs smoothly without exposing residents to unnecessary danger,” he said.

The National Police Service was deployed to manage traffic and provide security, while trained traffic marshals guided motorists and pedestrians to alternative routes.

KEYFEST is an annual event aimed at promoting community cohesion, celebrating Kisumu’s cultural diversity and creating networking opportunities for local businesses, stakeholders and residents.

The car drift show is one of the festival’s main highlights, adding a modern and youthful touch to the end-of-year celebrations.

As engines continued to roar and crowds cheered on the drivers, Kisumu remained firmly in festive mode, closing the year with speed, excitement and a strong sense of community.