28 Million Fingerlings a Year: Inside Govt’s Plan to Rebuild Lake Victoria Economy

The government has intensified efforts to revive the Lake Victoria economy through major investments in the Blue Economy sector, with a new fisheries and aquaculture training hub in Kisumu expected to boost fish production, create jobs and restore livelihoods for thousands of families dependent on the lake.

In a statement, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said the Lake Victoria region had for decades endured economic decline due to dwindling fish stocks, weak market systems and shrinking incomes that left many fisherfolk struggling to make a living.

He said the government, under President William Ruto’s administration, is implementing strategic interventions aimed at transforming the region into a key economic growth zone for western Kenya.

At the centre of the initiative is the Kabonyo Kanyagwal Regional Fisheries and Aquaculture Training Centre of Excellence in Kadibo Sub-County, Kisumu County.

The facility, which sits on a 25-acre parcel of land, is being developed as a modern aquaculture hub to enhance fish production, strengthen skills training and support commercial fish markets across the Lake Region.

According to Omollo, the centre will include a large hatchery, 20 specialised fish ponds, a modern flood-control canal designed to manage backflow from Lake Victoria and overflows from River Nyando, as well as administrative offices, staff housing and dormitories for trainees.

Once operational, the facility is expected to produce about 28 million fingerlings annually. The fingerlings will be used to restock Lake Victoria, support cage fish farming and provide aquaculture farmers with affordable fish feeds and other production inputs.

The project is expected to benefit farmers and fish producers in Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya, Migori and Busia counties, while strengthening the region’s fisheries value chain and improving access to markets.

Omollo said the investment forms part of broader government efforts to restore livelihoods, expand trade opportunities and unlock the economic potential of communities living around the lake.

He noted that the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration is working closely with national government agencies and local communities to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

“The State Department continues to strengthen coordination between national government agencies and local communities, ensuring a secure, stable and enabling environment for the delivery of key Blue Economy infrastructure projects across the region,” he said.

The government views the Blue Economy as a critical pillar in its agenda to spur economic growth, create employment opportunities and enhance food security, particularly in regions that have historically relied on fishing as a primary source of income.

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