By KEPHER OTIENO
It is 6am as the sun casts its warmth on four big boats — MV Harambee Kenya, MV Thor, MV Orion, MV Mnaka, as MV Suba Green Forest docks at Kisumu pier.
Within minutes, loaders begin to offload the goods aboard the ships and the port is quickly turned into a beehive of activities with lorries transiting goods in and out.
After lying idle for decades, Kisumu port is now set to undergo a major facelift expected to turn it around as it seeks to refurbish its old ships and buy new ones.
Over the years, the water vessels at the facility have been lying idle at the port’s dry dock, despite their immense economic potential.
The boats, which cost the Government billions of shillings to acquire in 1977, have been gathering dust and harbouring cockroaches, frogs, snakes, snails and tortoise.
Some the vessels are in bad shape because of the neglect by State organs due to bad politics and sheer management ineptitude.
The poor management of the port facilities and ships threw marine services into a halt, paralysing the hitherto thriving water transport sector into a mess.
But now all is set to change if the advance plans and renewed efforts by Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) succeed.
Revival Plan
The Weekend Business established that the two authorities plan to revert the management of the port to KPA so as to breathe fresh life into Kisumu port.
If successful, the plan will not only benefit Kisumu station, but also Kendu Bay, Homabay, Kowuor, Luanda Kotieno, Mfangano, Asembo bay and Muhuru ports have the chance to also be under the financial might of KPA.
Already the idea has generated a lot of excitement among marine investors and employees of KRC, who have all along bored the brunt of poor remuneration.
Once it is okayed, chances are high that water transport investment will be rejuvenated as indicated by the current high attention the sea sector is receiving.
Survey by Weekend Business showed that several investors were now keen on putting up marine equipment at the port, either to ship goods to Port Bell or passengers.
This latest trend is informed by encouraging news that the State is planning to hand over the management of the port to KPA to instil professionalism and renovate the decaying port facilities in Lake Victoria.
Already, KRC has moved fast to dispose of some of its ‘eye sore’ vessels to investors after complaints by local leaders that the machines be put into viable use.
Nyanza leaders led by Prof Anyang Nyongo and Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch and Mayor Sam Okello were appalled by underutilisation of the facilities. They petitioned Transport minister to address the situation, which now appears to be improving.
The leaders demanded that the Government takes stern action to forestall further losses of revenue resulting from mal-administration of KR property.
What is disturbing to the leaders is the fact that while MV Uhuru, which shuttles between Port-Bell, Mwanza, Kisumu, Bukoba in Tanzania and to Jinja in Uganda was rusting in the lake waters, the vessel if put into use has the potential to earn $25,000 (about Sh2.1 million) in a day.
This means that it could net Sh30 million a month if it only makes one trip a day.
According to marine expert Jeremy Onyango, the vessel could easily manage 13 trips a day to meet growing shipping demands of the neighbouring countries.
With Uganda being a landlocked country, Kisumu port can be an ideal transit route to serve Mombasa destined cargo.
Already, several businessmen involved in international trade use the port to ship goods in and out of Kenya simply because it more economical and the ships carry large consignment.
