Kisumu port signs of recovery encouraging

 

Signs of recovery at Kisumu port are becoming apparent following the repair of the largest cargo vessels on the lake; MV Uhuru and MV Kabalega. The history of the port dates back to 1901, then known as port Florence, when it was established as an inland terminal of the Uganda Railways.

The port's productivity stalled in the 1990s and it has not been able to recover since. This is attributable to the shambolic manner in which port services were handled.

Ideally, that should have been in the province of the Kenya Ports Authority, but the responsibility was passed on to the Kenya Railways Corporation, which was brought to its knees through mismanagement. With the water hyacinth weed choking the life out of the lake, not only ferry and ship services completely ground to a halt, the main economic lifeline of communities around the lake, fishing, is a pale shadow of its former self.

But now with the Standard Gauge Railway line set to reach Kisumu once the second phase of construction is complete, and the Government having earmarked Sh14 billion for the construction of a second port on Lake Victoria, things are beginning to look up. Uganda has already sunk $500 million (Sh1.8 trillion Ugandan shillings) into improving maritime trade on Lake Victoria and other inland waters.

A vibrant port linked to the SGR can only improve the economic prospects of Kisumu town and adjoining areas.