Kisumu is derived from a luo name 'sumo' which means a place of barter trade.
The city is believed to be one of the oldest settlements in the country. Currently it is inhabited by the Luo community but historical records indicate that it had been dominated by diverse communities at different times long before Europeans arrived.
In the pre-colonial period many communities gathered at the city for barter trade.
Each community had a different name for the place. Some of the names used included:
1. The Luo called it 'Kisumo' meaning a place to look for food such that one would say I am going to Kisumo to mean I am going to look for food.
2. The Abaluhya called it " Abhasuma" which means a place to borrow food.
3. The Abagusii called it 'egesumu' meaning a structure for rearing chicken.
It is believed that the Abagusii first settled in Kisumu but found that the area was not good for animal husbandry and agriculture.
4. The Nandi called it 'kisumet' which means a place where food was found during times of scarcity.