The controversial Kisumu-based Lake Basin Mall is finally picking up business.
The Sh4 billion mall has been marred with controversy and graft allegations and has been under scrutiny by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged inflation of the funds used in its construction.
Consequently, it has remained unoccupied since its completion in 2016 as detectives try to bring the said perpetrators to book.
This has seen the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Tusky's Supermarket, which had shown interest in occupying spaces in the mall which is located in Mamboleo cancelling the plans.
However, the mall, the biggest in Western Kenya, has begun picking up business. The mall now has occupants including Best Western International Hotel, which opened a branch there last weekend.
Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) chair Odoyo Owidi on Friday revealed that the mall's occupancy had reached 45 per cent.
“All the office space on the second floor is now occupied, and there are a number of activities that are taking place in the mall,” said Owidi.
The said scam in the construction of the mall has since seen a number of former LBDA officials charged, among them ousted Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Onyango Oloo.
Oloo has since been replaced with Elisha Oraro.