The County Government of Kisumu has partnered with Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL) to fabricate modern fibreglass boats for fishermen.
Through the initiative, which targets phasing out wooden boats to enhance safety in the lake, the first batch of six boats shall be handed over to the fishermen within 90 days.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, who toured the facility alongside senior Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) officials on Tuesday to assess the progress, said five of the boats will be distributed to fisherfolk in Kisumu Central, Seme, Kisumu West, Nyakach, and Kadibo Sub-Counties.
The sixth boat, he said, will be assigned to the Directorate of Fisheries to assist in monitoring and surveillance.
Each one of the modern boats, he said, is fitted with 25 to 40 horsepower engines and comes fully equipped with cooler boxes for storage of fish for up to 500 kg.
Other safety gadgets that come with the boats include life jackets, flares, and safety gear for security in the lake.
“The goal of purchasing these boats is to convince our fishermen and lake travel operators to transition from the use of old-age boats made of wood into the fibreglass vessels. Moving forward, it is our intention to phase out the use of wooden boats, which have killed many of our people in the lake,” he said.
The governor said that in addition to the boats, the county government has embarked on the construction of five landing sites to support the fishermen.
The landing sites are strategically located at Kichinjio Beach in Kisumu Central Sub-County, Nanga Beach in Seme Sub-County, Rota Beach in Kisumu West Sub-County, Koguta Beach in Nyakach Sub-County, and Nyamware Beach in Kadibo Sub-County.
The sites, he said, have been designed to provide enhanced accessibility, improve safety, and facilitate the efficient transportation of fish to boost economic development in the area.
Plans, he added, were underway to establish a fish processing plant and storage facilities to elevate the local fisheries sector, offering opportunities in value addition for the products to reach a wider market.
The projects, spearheaded by the Kisumu Lakefront Development Corporation (KLDC), aim to accelerate development along the lakefront to attract investments in tourism and the blue economy.
KLDC, he added, plans to construct a 46-kilometre-long promenade along the shoreline to enhance tourists’ experience and, at the same time, promote economic activities along the lake.
“This project will serve as the backbone of the lakefront, stimulating further investments and connecting all lakefront developments. The infrastructure will drive tourism, trade, and regional collaboration,” he said.
He urged the private sector to liaise with KLDC to take up the various investment opportunities to change the face of Kisumu.
“We invite all interested parties, local and international, to partner with the Kisumu Lakefront Development Corporation in bringing these exciting initiatives to life.
Together, we can transform the lakefront, make it a vibrant hub of economic activity, and ensure sustainable development for future generations,” he said.
By Chris Mahandara
