Kakamega lands 10-tonne fish export deal to Italy, eyes Europe

The factory has so far established 27 European countries as its potential market.

Ondieki said the factory has a wide and large network market locally where they do their supplies.

"We are supplying our fish products across the country with large markets being supermarkets and Nairobi city and we hope to engage more fish farmers to ensure there is an increase in fish production due to the huge demand to meet," said Ondieki.

The fish factory is currently sourcing its raw products from the 14 counties of the Lake Region Economic Block (LREB).

"We are currently having 1,1000 fish farmers whom we have listed on our program but the number is low and that is why we are working towards bringing more farmers on board by equipping them with requisite skills, training, availing them with fish feeds at a low price and securing a ready market for them in order to reduce the production cost and improve fish production," he said.

According to Ondieki, the factory is currently processing 15 tonnes of fish per day with the factory having the capacity to process and export 20 tonnes of fish per day with the annual demand for fish projected to be 7,000 tonnes.

The factory has already set up an outlet in Gikomba and that would facilitate their business in the city and outside the country.

"We are getting demand for fish to Nairobi of about 5 tonnes per week and that has made us open our outlet in Gikomba that will enable us to meet the ever-rising demand in Nairobi and the outlet will serve as a good point for our exportation," said Ondieki.

At least 6,976 farmers from Kakamega County are to benefit from the venture, and there are about 9,988 fish ponds with the potential to produce over 1,798 tonnes of fish in seven months.

The factory is one of the four facilities constructed under the 2008-2012 ESP alongside other fish factories in Meru, Nyeri, and Migori

The county is expected to rake in Sh539 million from this initiative. DAS Group and Kakamega County signed a Memorandum of Understanding where the firm was to run the factory. DAS Group took over the possession of the premises after the county signed a lease agreement on November 3 last year.

Chief Officer for Fisheries Development Jessica Wesonga said they are partnering with international donors like IFAD to ensure at least farmers in each ward have cooperatives and ensure the production cost is low.

"We have factored money into our current budget to train farmers, establish aggregation centres for their fish, give them feeds, fingerlings and pond liners at subsidised cost and ensure we secure for them a ready market," said Wsonga.