Governor Anyang' Nyong'o woos investors with mega marine project

Cage fish farming, Mark Owuor checking at his fish cages in Bondo, Siaya County.

Foreign investors have expressed interest to partner the Kisumu County Government to develop the multi-billion shilling marine industry to spur tourism growth and development.

So far, investors from Brussels have approached the county government and are willing to put up massive investments around Lake Victoria shared by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o said such investments will create job opportunities for thousands of youth.

The call comes at a time when the three countries have embarked on a Sh80 billion joint marine projects funded by the World Bank.

Lake Victoria, like several other water bodies and waterways, has served as an elaborate transport system for travel, trade and commerce within the lake basin but many investors have never explored the openings like they are interested now.

In the past, in most parts of Nyanza where the lake traverses, water transport was one of the most efficient and reliable system compared to road and rail transport and later air transport that came to overtake the waterways.

For instance, MV Uhuru vessel that used to ply Kisumu Port to port Bell Jinja was making Sh4 million a trip. But is now rotting in water due to a simple mechanical breakdown yet it cost the tax payers millions to acquire.

"These are some of the investments that we want work with marine experts or investors to resolve," says Prof Nyong'o.

With the passage of time and arrival of modern mechanised surface transport system, water transport in Kisumu lost its significance and departed from traditional styles and values.

Mariner Peter Malare recalls that the long cherished historic transport system faded away over time. But now there are fresh and joint efforts by the East African governments to revive active lake transport, and other marine investments in the lake.

Already, the county is in discussion with a number of bilateral donors to improve maritime investments and services to the public, but this efforts could be derailed if the current political impasse escalates further.