The Salvation Army has earmarked Sh100 million for setting up of a five-star hotel in Kakamega town.
So far, the church has bought a 10-acre parcel near Lubao market on the Kakamega-Webuye road, where the facility will be built.
William Ouya, a local hotel owners' representative , said the development would be a major boost to the local tourism industry.
He said the church was among three other investors given the green light to put up new hotels locally, complete with modern conference facilities.
Captain David Odanga, a top church official, said the project would also create job and business opportunities for locals.
“We would like locals and the county government to support the project meant to boost the economic growth of this county and by extension Western region,” he told journalists moments after a fundraiser in aid of the project in town on Saturday.
Ease pressure
According to him, the facility will ease pressure on the few available posh hotels in the county. “Kakamega’s strategic location makes the town a key investment hub in the Western tourism circuit and the church would like to assist the county to realise its full tourism potential,” he said.
Mr Ouya encouraged youths to join technical colleges to acquire competence skills and knowledge to be able to work in the expanding hotel industry.
Kakamega has played host to several regional and national events since inception of devolution, including CECAFA tournament, devolution conference and Mashujaa Day celebrations.
The county hosted an estimated 6,000 guests in the April summit and another 10,000 last month, according to Tourism Executive Kassim Ndeche.
However, most of the visitors were forced to spend nights in Kisumu, Eldoret and Bungoma towns due to lack of accommodation.
