State gives Sh1.5b for fish landing sites in Nyanza, coast region
By Kepher Otieno and Habil Onyango, February 28, 2024
President William Ruto says his government has set aside Sh1.5 billion this financial year to construct 11 fish landing sites around Lake Victoria and round the Indian ocean realm to harness the hitherto underutilised blue economy potential.
Some of the fish landing sites are in Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, and Siaya counties, while others are on the coastal shorelines.
Speaking when he officially opened the Homa Bay County International Investment Conference, Ruto with more efforts also put in agri-business and agro- processing industries through the launch of special economic zones, across the country, the economy would bounce back to the right path of growth.
Already, agricultural production has posted good return with Kenya producing 67 million metrics tonnes of maize, up from the previous 44 million.
The disclosure by President Ruto when it was disclosed that the ongoing construction of the new Homa Bay pier by the Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL) will cost a half a billion and would create more wealth, jobs and boost regional trade.
The exercise is expected to be complete by July this year, according to KSL Managing director Major General Paul Otieno.
Development of the Pier will take between six to seven months, Otieno told the media during a tour at the construction site on the shoreline of Lake victoria in Homa Bay.
Ruto launched the construction and rehabilitation of the Homa Bay Pier in the county towards the end of last year.
The President said that the mission of the government was to provide efficient, effective and competitive port services to facilitate East Africa’s domestic and intra-regional trade. Upon completion, the pier will be a crucial connecting link to Kisumu County, Entebbe and Jinja in Uganda and Mwanza in Tanzania among other key trade partners.
The developments are expected to promote seamless transport and connectivity and deepen regional trade.
The Pier will facilitate the creation of direct and indirect employment opportunities for thousands of households within the County. The move is part of a broad and deliberate plan to open up the inland water transport systems in Lake Victoria.
“This will be boosted by the rehabilitation and upgrade of piers at Homabay, Kendu Bay and Mbita Homa bay County,’’ Otieno explained during the start of a three days Homa Bay investment conference hosted by Governor.