The Government is stepping up investments in Lake Victoria’s blue economy through the construction of modern fish landing sites, expansion of water transport infrastructure, improved road connectivity and enhanced security operations in a renewed push to boost fishermen’s incomes and transform the fishing industry.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr Raymond Omollo said the Government was implementing a comprehensive development programme targeting the lake’s economic potential through investments in infrastructure, equipment, training, security and market access.
Speaking during an engagement with Beach Management Units (BMUs) and members of the business community in Migori County, Dr Omollo said President William Ruto’s administration had prioritised the fishing sector as a key pillar of economic growth.
“The President has been very deliberate and intentional. He is constructing nine fish landing sites on Lake Victoria and developing piers to support the fishing industry while making water transport safer and more convenient,” said Dr Omollo.
He cited ongoing construction works at Muhuru Bay Pier in Migori County and other fish landing sites around Lake Victoria, saying the modern facilities would feature cold storage rooms, hygienic fish-handling areas and improved trading infrastructure to minimise post-harvest losses and increase fishermen’s earnings.
The PS also outlined investments in water transport infrastructure, including the completed facility in Homa Bay, ongoing works at Usenge in Siaya County and planned developments at Mbita, Kendu Bay and Sena on Mfangano Island.
He added that a public ferry in Kisumu was nearing completion and would improve passenger movement, facilitate trade and strengthen connectivity among communities along the lake.
Dr Omollo said the Government’s blue economy agenda extended beyond fishing to encompass water transport, trade and other commercial opportunities that could be unlocked through the lake.
On security, the PS announced plans to deploy additional police and security officers and increase the number of patrol boats on Lake Victoria before the end of 2026 to address persistent insecurity affecting fishing communities.
He said the decision followed consultations with the leadership of the Border Patrol Unit and the Director General of the Kenya Coast Guard Service, with the additional personnel and equipment expected to strengthen surveillance, border patrol operations and the protection of fishermen operating in Kenyan waters.
The PS acknowledged persistent security challenges, particularly around Migingo Island and areas bordering Uganda and Tanzania, assuring fishing communities that the Government was pursuing coordinated interventions to address their concerns.
“We are going to increase the number of officers who will support you in securing yourselves and the lake. We are also going to bring additional patrol boats,” he said.
“Before the end of this year, you will see an increased number of police and security officers as well as more patrol boats to ensure your safety as you undertake fishing activities.”
He further called for the modernisation of lake patrol operations through the acquisition of safer vessels equipped with enhanced security features, warning that reliance on traditional wooden boats posed safety risks.
Turning to economic empowerment, Dr Omollo urged BMUs to strengthen their savings and credit cooperative societies (SACCOs) through increased membership, transparent financial management and sound governance structures.
He emphasised the need to train SACCO officials in financial management and accountability to safeguard members’ savings and ensure resources were channelled towards expanding fishing enterprises and other income-generating activities.
He also encouraged fishing communities to diversify their livelihoods through complementary ventures such as integrated poultry farming, particularly for households whose members were not directly engaged in fishing.
On market access, the PS highlighted the Government’s ongoing construction of more than 600 markets across the country, saying the facilities would provide better trading conditions and improve access to reliable markets for producers.
He said the modern markets would incorporate essential amenities, including electricity, water and cold storage facilities, enabling traders and fishermen to preserve their products, reduce losses and minimise exploitation by middlemen.
Dr Omollo further disclosed that President Ruto was expected to visit the Lake Victoria region in the coming weeks to launch the construction of the approximately 500-kilometre Lake Victoria Ring Road, stretching from Migori to Busia.
He said the road project, alongside the revival of stalled road construction works and the development of new road networks, would improve connectivity between fish landing sites, markets and commercial centres across the region.
According to the PS, improved transport infrastructure would ensure that investments in the blue economy translated into tangible economic benefits for fishing communities.
He argued that the fishing industry deserved the same level of Government attention and investment accorded to coffee, tea, dairy and sugarcane farmers, noting that fishing communities played an equally important role in the country’s economic transformation.
On healthcare, Dr Omollo highlighted the Government’s reforms under Taifa Care, saying more than 33 million Kenyans had registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA).
He said the programme was designed to shield households from the financial burden of medical expenses and enable fishermen, traders and other Kenyans to access healthcare without selling their businesses, land or livestock to meet treatment costs.
The PS reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to equitable development, saying investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic opportunities should benefit all Kenyans regardless of their geographical location.
He urged National Government Administration Officers, security agencies and BMU leaders to remain accountable and responsive to the concerns of fishing communities, stressing that public service should translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
Dr Omollo commended BMU leaders for maintaining engagement with Government institutions, emphasising that collaboration was critical in addressing the security, infrastructure and economic challenges facing the fishing industry.
He said similar engagements had been held with fishing communities in Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya counties as part of a coordinated strategy to strengthen the blue economy across the Lake Victoria region.
Dr Omollo was accompanied by Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, national and county government officials, security officers, BMU representatives and members of the business community.
