Carrefour Supermarket has closed its store at Mega Plaza along Oginga Odinga Street, resulting in hundreds of job losses and impacting local suppliers.
In a notice dated November 27, Majid Al Futtaim Retail, Carrefour’s operator, attributed the decision to a strategic evaluation aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability in Kenya.
“After careful consideration, we have decided to close this location effective November 30, 2024. This decision was made as part of a strategic evaluation to ensure the long-term plans for Kenya remain feasible and sustainable,” read the statement.
Carrefour, which entered Kisumu in 2021 with two outlets at Mega Plaza and United Mall, had pledged to boost job creation and regional economic growth. At the time, Country Manager Franck Moreau highlighted the region’s potential, noting over 200 direct and indirect jobs created.
The closure will affect not only employees but also hundreds of local suppliers who relied on the store to market and sell their products. Carrefour assured stakeholders of support during the transition, urging suppliers to work with category managers to minimize disruptions.
“We highly value our partnerships and want to assure you that this does not reflect any change in our commitment to our suppliers,” the notice stated.
Locals have expressed concerns over the economic impact of the closure, with some attributing the decision to challenges such as the re-routing of town service matatus out of Kisumu’s Central Business District (CBD).
Additionally, Shivling Supermarket, located along Oginga Odinga Street, is also shutting down its operations.
Carrefour currently operates 25 stores nationwide.
