Deputy President Kithure Kindiki inspects the ongoing construction of Kabonyo Fisheries Aquaculture and Training Centre in Nyando, Kisumu County/DPCS
The government is constructing 12 fish landing sites and an
Aquaculture Training Centre to boost the fishing sector in five counties around
Lake Victoria to ensure better earnings to fisherfolk and other beneficiaries
in the value chain.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the administration is
keen on enhancing the incomes of fishermen and fish farmers through
wide-ranging interventions set to turnaround the blue economy sector in the
region.
The DP on Tuesday inspected ongoing construction of Kabonyo
Fisheries Aquaculture and Training Centre in Nyando, Kisumu County affirming
the government’s resolve to make the sector more productive and beneficial.
Already three fish landing sites have been completed in
Siaya, Busia and Migori counties. Construction of nine more will commence soon:
one in Migori and Busia, two in Homa Bay, two in Kisumu and three in Siaya.
Each of the sites is costing between Sh150 million and Sh160
million.
“The sites are critical in ensuring standardized reception
of fish from the lake, preservation in cold rooms and storage in preparation
for sale.
“We are keen on improving the earnings of those in the
fishing and blue economy sectors as promised in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto,” DP
said.
The Sh1.3 billion Aquaculture Centre is a flagship project
aimed at rejuvenating the blue economy value chains through provision of
training facilities and rearing of better fish species. Once complete, it will
provide at least 28 million fingerlings annually for farmers and restocking of
the lake.
“This centre will be a place for nurturing, selecting and
preparing fresh-water fingerlings. The fingerlings will be reared and then
given to farmers for aquaculture or cage-culture. The fingerlings will also be
used to restock Lake Victoria,” DP added.
The over Sh3 billion investment targets revitalizing the
critical sector that is a source of income for millions of Kenyans.
“We want to reach out to farmers and help them maximize on
the blue economy sector. Going forward, fish, fisheries and the blue economy
will bring more income to the people of Kisumu, Saiya, Busia, Migori and Homa
Bay through Lake Victoria,” assured Prof. Kindiki.
The Deputy President also said the government has granted
over Sh124 million to beach management units in the five counties with another
Sh205 million in the pipeline.
“We will keep on empowering the fishermen and the units so
they have better facilities and better prepared for their trade. Our focus is
on strengthening the economic possibilities for local communities around the
lake,” he added.
The DP said it is time to serve the people indicating
commitment to deliver promises made to the people.
“It is time to work for the people. We are extremely
focused. We are on a mission. We don’t want to mix politics and development.
Time for politics will come,” he stated.