The government has urged the contractor to expedite construction of the Sh3 billion Kabonyo Fisheries Aquaculture and Training Centre, a flagship initiative under Kenya's blue economy strategy, that is 30 per cent complete.
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of performance and delivery management in the Executive Office of the President, Eliud Owalo, led a high-level delegation to inspect the progress on Wednesday.
Owalo said the government was keen on fast-tracking the implementation of the project, being undertaken jointly by the Kenyan and Hungarian governments.
“We are here to undertake inspection and verification of the status of this project. His Excellency the President himself came here and commissioned the project. It is actually the first project under the tenure of the current administration that Cabinet approved and the President signed off for implementation,” he said.
The project, which is expected to be a game-changer in Kenya’s fisheries sector, is designed to address the declining fish stocks in Lake Victoria through the production of fingerlings.
It also includes modern training facilities for fishermen.
“In terms of the project update, we are at about 30 per cent. The horizontal infrastructure of the road network is already being worked on”.
A canal has been done to block the backflow of water from the lake.
“The foundation for key buildings like the administration block, laboratory, dormitory, staff housing and other amenities is already work in progress,” Owalo said.
However, he expressed concern over the slow pace of the project and urged the contractor to speed up construction so that the facility can be ready within the stipulated 30-month period, with a target completion date around 2027.
Once completed, the Kabonyo Kanyagwal project will serve as a major training hub for modern fishing techniques and related skills for local fishermen.
It is expected to complement other government initiatives around Lake Victoria and beyond.
“This project will go hand in hand with the establishment and operationalisation of fish landing sites not just around the lake, but also at the Coast and in Turkana. These landing sites will be equipped with adequate refrigeration facilities to preserve the catch,” Owalo said.
He also revealed that part of the broader development plan includes upgrading Kisumu International Airport to enhance cargo handling capacity.
This will enable direct export of fish and agricultural produce to European markets, boosting the region’s economy.
The inspection visit was also attended by representatives from national and county governments, showcasing intergovernmental collaboration.
Among those present was Victor Nyagaya, CEO of the Lake Region Economic Bloc, who praised the national government’s commitment to realise the community’s long-held dream.
“This is your baby, and you’ve treated it as such by making frequent visits to oversee progress. I’m sure it would be the pleasure of His Excellency the President to return here and open this project sooner rather than later, ideally before 2027,” Nyagaya said.
He thanked the local leadership and community for their continued support, adding that what had once seemed like a far-fetched dream was now taking shape on the ground.
The Kabonyo Kanyagwal project is expected to significantly impact the local economy by creating jobs, improving fish production, and enhancing skills among youth and fisherfolk in the region.
