Kenya’s
fish industry is turning increasingly to processing and value addition as
producers seek to bridge the country’s persistent fish supply gap while opening
access to higher-value domestic and international markets.
The
push comes as fish production reached a record 189,150.6 tonnes in 2025, an
increase of 12.3 per cent from 168,424 tonnes a year earlier, according to the
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The
value of fish landed rose even faster, by 39.5 per cent, to Sh54.9 billion. The
growth, however, is yet to close the gap between local supply and consumption.
The
Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS) says Kenya’s fish requirement would be about
510,000 tonnes a year if the country were to reach the African average
consumption of 10 kilogrammes per person, based on a population of more than 51
million.
Production
in 2024 stood at about 161,000 tonnes in the service’s assessment, leaving a
substantial shortfall.
Government
officials have more recently estimated the annual deficit at about 450,000
tonnes, underscoring the size of the market that could be served by increased
production, better handling and processing.
The
gap has historically been filled partly through imports, while Kenya has also
struggled to increase the amount of fish moving through formal processing and
value-added channels.
Industry
players say this is where the emergence of more sophisticated processing
operations could change the structure of the industry.
Kenya Fisheries Service Director General Daisy Muriuki has said the government is stepping up efforts to ensure fish consumed in the country is safe and meets the required quality standards.
She noted that the state was strengthening measures across the fisheries value chain, from production and handling to processing and consumption, to protect consumers and promote quality fish products.
“Fish is not only food; it is an opportunity to improve the health of our people, create jobs and put money in the hands of our farmers. We want to see more Kenyans embrace fish consumption and take up fish farming as a viable economic activity,” Muriuki said.
Instead
of selling fish largely as fresh or whole products, processors can produce
fillets, frozen products, ready-to-cook portions and other products with longer
shelf lives and access to different categories of buyers.
Government
data shows that aquaculture is already becoming an important source of supply.
Cage
farming increased by 10.1 per cent in 2025 to 28,100 tonnes, while pond fish
production fell by 20.7 per cent to 6,100 tonnes. The growth of cage farming
has helped drive the broader expansion of aquaculture in recent years.
Global
Tilapia, a Kenyan aquaculture and fish-processing company, is seeking to
position itself in this market after securing FSSC 22000 food-safety
certification.
The
company says it is the first fish-processing company in Kenya to obtain the
internationally recognised certification.
“Achieving
FSSC 22000 certification is an important step in our growth journey. It
demonstrates that we are investing in the systems, processes and people needed
to consistently deliver safe and quality fish products to our customers,” said Global
Tilapia founder and managing director Joseph Mureithi.
“We
believe this will strengthen customer confidence and create new opportunities
for the business.”
The
certification is significant because FSSC 22000 focuses on food-safety
management systems, regulatory compliance and controls across the food-supply
chain.
For
processors seeking to supply large retailers, food-service companies and
institutional buyers, internationally recognised food-safety systems can form
part of the requirements for becoming an approved supplier.
But
the wider opportunity extends beyond individual processors.
The
Kenya Fish Marketing Authority has previously identified limited supply, low
levels of value addition, inadequate infrastructure for handling and marketing
fish and low quantities traded locally and internationally among the major
constraints holding back development of the fish market.
Government
programmes are consequently placing greater emphasis on processing, storage and
market access alongside production.
The
national fisheries strategy identifies value addition and improved market
development as important areas for strengthening the sector.
KNBS
data shows Kenya exported 9,343.3
tonnes of fish and fish preparations in 2025, up from 8,709.3 tonnes in
2024, indicating room for processors to develop products that can meet international
market requirements.
The
government’s 2024/25 performance report shows that exports of fish and fish
products earned Sh5.9 billion,
exceeding the Sh4.8 billion target for the year.