The first phase of rehabilitation of Homa Bay pier will end this year, Kenya Shipyards Ltd Managing Director Maj Gen Paul Otieno has said.
The completion of rehabilitation will see lake transport revived and activate business activities which have been dormant for many years.
Water was one of the leading modes of transport in the 70s as it was the safest and used to carry bulky goods.
Otieno together with the head of Civil and Modular works at Kenya Shipyards Limited Lt Col Brian Omito said the pier will then be open for public use.
The director said ongoing work before it is opened involves rehabilitating and upgrading the pier with modern facilities such as landing bays, fish landing bays, freezing containers, waiting bays, public swimming area, and restaurants among other amenities.
“Homa Bay pier can be used as an off-taker of Kisumu port to service goods going to Uganda through water transportation systems. The revival of the pier will increase the volume of exports from Homa Bay to Uganda and Tanzania and other neighbouring countries,” Otieno said.
Speaking when he toured the ongoing construction works at the pier in Homa Bay town, Otieno expressed optimism that there will be an increase in job opportunities for Kenyan youths.
Such jobs include clearing and forwarding, Insurance and freight business and on-land and lake transport.
There will also be an increase in leisure tourism, sports tourism, and a boom in human capital development that will be delivered through local universities and tertiary colleges.
President William Ruto’s administration has been passionate about promoting the blue economy to business opportunities around Lake Victoria.
Besides the pier in Homa Bay, the government will develop feeder ports such as Sena in Mfangano Island and Kendu Bay pier.
Maj Gen Otieno said the projects will provide a platform that traders in the region can use to export their goods to neighbouring counties.
“Dredging of the pier was done to a depth of six meters for safe berth of ships,” he added.
Omito said other aspects of rehabilitation involve clearing and levelling off the ground in preparation for phase two.
“Landscaping aspect involves the creation of artificial beaches. The beaches are attractive and safe for human activities,” Omito said.
Traders in Homa Bay expressed their happiness that the facility will enhance business operations.
Homa Bay County Giant Traders Association chairman Jack Nyambega said transport cost is a major issue when doing business.
Many local traders have been finding it difficult to take their produce to foreign markets.
“The lake transport will provide an alternative mode of transport which is safe as well. We believe that the cost of supplying goods to foreign markets will reduce,” Nyambega said.
Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency (LVSWWDA) chairman Odoyo Owidi and his counterpart from Fish Marketing Authority Martin Ogindo said the project will enhance economic development in the lake region.
Ogindo asked local leaders to support ongoing development projects saying they will enhance growth.
“Let us not again demonstrate the government which has invested heavily in building the region,” Ogindo said.
