The volume of cargo shipped through the newly revamped Kisumu Port has highly increased with more investors venturing into the cargo shipment business and marine transport in Lake Victoria over the last eight years.

The port realised improved cumulative cargo throughput which grew up to 124, 214.9 tonnes from 118,910.00 tonnes recorded last year and 44,951.9 tonnes realised in 2022.

Since then the growth cargo shipment and maritime businesses have significantly grown at the port with many investors trooping to the Lake assured of a sound investment climate.

Currently, the number of newly registered vessels operating in the Lake has grown to 116 up from 10 registered in the year 2017.

Intensified programme

According to Kisumu Port Manager Charles Kitur, more investors are still showing up to invest in the Lake amid the intensified programme by the State to unlock the potential of the blue economy to create more wealth and employment opportunities for the thousands of jobless youth in the lakeside region.

“Since we started operations at the port, we have witnessed relentless growing enthusiasm to put up significant investment in the Lake,” he said.

Kitur observed that by 2017, the cargo exports through the port were only 3,431 tonnes of goods shipped through Kisumu port but now it has grown to over 120,000 and is still showing a steady rise.

He exuded confidence that Lake Victoria will be teeming with a beehive of economic activities once it is officially commissioned and its doors open to the public upon completion of the ongoing upgrades.

Kitur disclosed that so far Kisumu Port was on its path to economic resilience after decades of lull and reported neglect. In July this year, the port registered 22 vessels in terms of vessel calling at the facility.

“This is an equal registration of vessels as compared to the previous month June 2024,” said Kitur told the Business Hub.  He identified the vessels registered during the period under review as MV Uhuru, MT Kabaka Mutebi II, MV Munanka, MV Orion II, MV Mango Tree and Orion III. They have since made three, nine, one, six and two calls respectively.

“During the month under review, the port registered a total of 34,375.2 tonnes of export and nil import,” explained Kitur.

Most goods shipped through Kisumu Port include gas oil, bagged fertiliser, crude palm oil, bar soaps, steel billets, ceramic tiles, heavy machinery, coal, and iron sheets. Others are empty trucks, sorghum, and sugar which are sold in the East African markets.

With the East African community eyeing a single market, the volume of trade between the member states is set to grow once the port and the linking ports of Jinja and Mwanza being revamped to handle big docking ships, are also completed