Vultures with their long-hooked bills that are designed for tearing pieces of food have become the new tourist attraction on the shores of Lake Victoria, a once thriving, but now moribund Homa Bay pier.

The lake birds prey on food leftovers, carcasses, and carrion or flesh as they wander about on the shorelines scavenging for food.

Fish traders Marion Amollo and Jack Owino say the birds that soar at great heights with an all-seeing gaze have become a must-see for first-time visitors and tourists on the Homa Bay shoreline.

 But if you thought that they are only found in Homa Bay pier alone, then you are mistaken.

The vultures are also traced to the shores of Lake Victoria in Muhuru Bay in Migori County, where they are also a source of both local and international tourist attractions.

However, the rare bird breeding system is not clear, because residents just see them at the shores and can’t trace their natural habitat. This has been a source of studies for some tourists.

Owino recalls that most international tourists have been asking a lot of questions and seeking to know where the birds live. “Many have been tracing their home in the bush in vain,’’ She claims.

They are intelligent birds that choose their homes carefully.” If the vultures are hanging around your neighbourhood, they have a good reason,” she notes.

The vultures love lakes, ponds, and big trees and will flock to any area that has large trees where they can perch and look for food or open roof areas, where they can hide as their home. They love eating dead animals, garbage and dog food. Stalled boats at the shorelines are their temporary habitat as this is where they retreat with scavenged food to eat.

Off late, the vultures have increased in numbers, and on a chilly morning one can spot over 1,000 birds preying on debris on the shoreline.

When we visited the shorelines, we found so many people busy taking photos with the vultures that seemed to have adopted to the human traffic.

“The presence of people doesn’t scare them,’’ observed a fisher vendor Janet Adhiambo. She claims that they are so swift that they can snatch a fish from one’s hand if you carry it carelessly.

Adhiambo says once fish is cleaned, the scales and intestines are dumped by the beachside for the vultures to feed on.

She revealed that the fact the birds urinate on their legs and feet to keep cool is fascinating. The act which also kills bacteria and parasites keeping the birds healthy is intrigues the bird watchers.

Adhiambo further observed that the birds hunch their bodies and tuck in their heads in cold weather, open their wings, and stretch their necks when hot.

The bird’s sites have added yet another tourism niche to the lakeside county that also boasts of Ruma National Park which lies on the flat foot of the seasonally watered Lambwe River Valley.

Other tourist attraction sites are Simbi Nyaima which is a volcanic crater lake located in Kendu Bay, the Tom Mboya Mausoleum, Kanjera Archaeological Site, and Homa Hills Hot Springs.

Tourism associations

The county government of Homa Bay is keen on marketing the sites to improve tourism earnings, according to the County’s Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga.

He says they are working closely with the tourism associations and the Kenya Tourism Board to market its tourist sites. This weekend, the county will host the Roan Antelope Half Marathon at Ruma National Park.

Artists Esther Akoth better known as Akothee and Prince Inda will entertain guests and participants at the event expected to be graced by athletic legend Eliud Kipchoge and a host of state guests as part of marketing the park.

“Our aim is to preserve, and conserve the natural ecosystems and bird sanctuaries to attract more travellers to the countryside, including parks and the beaches,’’ says Magwanga.

To promote tourism and encourage tourists to visit, the Homa Bay County Government is set to demolish all illegal structures erected on the Lakeshore as it moves fast to legislate the Lakefront Development Corporation Act.

According to the Speaker of the County Assembly Julius Gaya, they are in the process of enacting a law to govern the lake resources and its riparian areas to attract more beach tourism.

“Once we legislate the Lake Front Corporation Bill, the executive will begin to clear all illegal structures on the Lakeshore to allow modern and fresh development activities,” says Gaya.

Currently, there are so many makeshift structures that have blocked the Lakefront, hindering its growth and development hence the Lakefront idea.

He explained that members of the Homa Bay County assembly have been mobilised to vote and pass the Bill before it is sent to the designated House Committee.

The County, which is host to a huge percentage of the Lake in Nyanza, seeks to among other things utilise the natural water mass to promote a blue economy and create more wealth and jobs.

Gaya disclosed that already the Bill had reached the second stage of reading and is now trending to the second stage and final reading.

The Lake Front Corporation Bill is a special-purpose vehicle to develop and manage the economic and social activities of the Lakefront and mobilize resources to exploit the blue economy.

The Corporation is vital in identifying and packaging bankable projects that can be showcased to the world to attract investors, both local and international tourists, and development partners.

However, five other riparian counties along the Lake Victoria Basin have joined Homa Bay County in seeking to legislate a similar Bill in order to formalise operations in the Lake.

The Counties have resolved to form a framework and operationalise a technical sub-committee on the Lake Front Development Initiative.

The Counties of Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori have formed a framework to identify development hotspots, areas to harness and push for, and to spur new development.

Economic growth

Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, and Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma have held many meetings aimed at coming up with initiatives that will promote the lake front while generating economic growth.

 “We want our people to embrace the idea as best as it will open up the hitherto underutilised lake resources and its riparian land,’’ says Wanga.

Their aim is to focus on commercial and port areas, pipelines and jetties, hotels and resorts, golf courses, waterfronts, lakefront administration, and fish factories.

 “Building of infrastructure is the most powerful tool in the creation of jobs and the playing field for all businesses” the Homa Bay County Assembly speaker adds.

This ambitious Lake Front Development plan will link up beaches along the scenic and beautiful tourist spots in the expansive Winam Gulf.