KPA to rebuild three piers in Homa Bay

The Kenya Ports Authority will rehabilitate three piers in Homa Bay to facilitate operations along the shores of Lake Victoria.

The piers, which will operate as feeder ports, include Homa Bay, Kendu Bay and Mbita.

The structures built by colonialists are dilapidated and no longer actively support port operations as in their heydays.

Ships and boats no longer dock at the piers. Their poor state predisposes human lives to risk of drowning.

On Tuesday, the KPA board of directors led by chairman Joseph Kibwana, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, her deputy Oyugi Magwanga and Homa Bay county commissioner Moses Lilan toured the areas and assessed the structures.

After assessment, the team said there is need to rehabilitate the feeder ports to revive ship operations in Homa Bay.

KPA said a similar rehabilitation was done to a port in Kisumu.

“The technical officers will also visit the piers and inform the KPA management of what needs to be done to redeem the lost glory of the feeder ports,” Kibiwana said.

Speaking at Homa Bay pier, Kibwana said their main objective is to rehabilitate the feeder ports to enable the people of Homa Bay to benefit from lake transport.

He said they want efficient movement of large vessels like ships and ferries from Kisumu to Mbita via Kendu Bay and Homa Bay towns through Lake Victoria.

Wanga said the projects will improve economic development in Homa Bay.

Lake Victoria will also be opened to large vessels and enable people to earn their livelihoods through trade.

“This partnership will ensure port operations are activated and economic development of the people. We’ll start seeing big ships begin carrying cargo and passengers in Homa Bay,” Wanga said.

The governor said the sector will support agriculture by enabling farmers to transport their produce easily to other counties.

“Completion of the projects will open businesses and improve agriculture and other sectors,” she said.

Lilan said rehabilitating the feeder ports will reduce accidents in the lake.

“We lost ten people at Homa Bay pier due to poor management,” he said.

The administrator said security in the lake will also be enhanced through the rehabilitation.

“This programme will help us address security issues in the lake more efficiently,” he said.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)