Mega Projects

Inside Odinga Family’s Sh120bn Kisumu Dream City

LV Marina will span 285 acres on the family’s defunct molasses plant site.

Updated on

February 17, 2025

An impression of the LV Marina in Kisumu. (Photo: GulfCap)

The family of Kenya’s first vice president, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, led by Raila Odinga, is constructing a Sh120 billion city that will redefine Kisumu’s real estate sector.

Dubbed LV Marina, the development will occupy 285 acres near Lake Victoria on a parcel of land that once housed the now-defunct molasses plant owned by the family.

“We decided that the housing project is the most ideal for this region,” Mr Odinga said at the groundbreaking ceremony in January, adding that the land’s industrial past had inspired the family’s vision for a better future.

LV Marina will offer a mix of luxury waterfront villas, high-end apartments, schools, hospitals, commercial hubs, and even light industrial parks.

The project, a collaboration between the Odinga family and GulfCap Real Estate, a leading local real estate developer, will bring top-class infrastructure to the lakeside city.

According to GulfCap, LV Marina is “a landmark master-planned ecosystem poised to transform the face of Kisumu and the western region of Kenya.”

The project aspires to meet international quality standards and create a community that has space for everyone, from high-end waterfront homes to low-income city apartments.

Although GulfCap Real Estate is capable of developing the project on its own, its chief executive Chris Ochieng stated that the company will be working with others to enhance the project and make it successful.

“We have the resources to deliver this project, but we are looking for partners to bring in schools, healthcare facilities, and other key amenities,” he said.

An impression of the LV Marina in Kisumu. (Photo: GulfCap)

That the project is near Kisumu International Airport is a huge advantage, as it will be easily accessible to locals and foreigners alike.

This will likely boost tourism and business in the region, attracting entrepreneurs, investors, and tourists alike, and further stimulating Kisumu’s economy.

LV Marina’s vision is more than physical development: “This project is more than a change—it’s a bold expression of what we can do when we stretch for international levels of excellence,” GulfCap stated.

The development will consist of diverse spaces, from hectic industrial parks to serene recreational areas, to cater to the requirements of all who will call it home.

LV Marina promises to create a thriving, inclusive community that ranges from luxury to affordable housing. The project will include 1,200 affordable housing units, designed to ease the housing demand in Kisumu.

With the first phase expected to be completed within six years, the project is set to generate thousands of jobs for Kisumu and neighbouring counties.

Suleiman Shahbal, Chairman of GulfCap Real Estate, stated that LV Marina would serve not just the people of Kisumu but the entire western region: “This project is a vision of first-class living for all.”

As LV Marina takes shape, Mr Odinga is confident it will solidify Kisumu’s status as a progressive city.

“The future belongs to cities that offer higher standards of living, with better homes, schools, hospitals, and jobs,” he said.