Govt to deploy more police, patrol boats on Lake Victoria by December

KISUMU, Kenya, Nov 6 – The government plans to deploy additional security officers and patrol boats on Lake Victoria before the end of the year as it moves to address insecurity affecting fishing communities and boost the blue economy.

Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said the government was coordinating with the Border Patrol Unit and the Kenya Coast Guard Service to strengthen surveillance, particularly in areas bordering Uganda and Tanzania.

Speaking during a meeting with Kisumu County Beach Management Unit (BMU) officials and members of the business community in Kisumu, Omollo said the additional personnel and patrol boats would help protect fishermen operating on the lake.

“We are going to increase the number of officers that are going to support in securing you as well as securing the lake. We are also going to bring additional patrol boats,” he said.

He acknowledged persistent security challenges facing fishing communities, including incidents around Migingo Island, and said the government was committed to improving safety in Kenyan waters.

“The commitment I’m giving before the end of this year, you will see increased number of police and security officers. You will also see increased numbers of patrol boats so that we secure you as you undertake your fishing activities,” he said.

Beyond security, the government is investing in fishing infrastructure, including nine modern fish landing sites around Lake Victoria aimed at improving fish handling, reducing post-harvest losses and increasing fishermen’s earnings.

Omollo said the facilities would include cold storage rooms, hygienic fish handling areas and improved trading infrastructure.

“The President has been very deliberate, very intentional. He’s doing nine fish landing sites on Lake Victoria. He’s doing piers so that beyond supporting the fishing industry, he’s also making it possible for transport by water to be safe and convenient,” he said.

The Homa Bay facility has been completed, while construction is ongoing at Usenge in Siaya County. Other planned projects include facilities at Mbita, Kendu Bay and Sena on Mfangano Island.

The PS also cited ongoing construction at Muhuru Bay Pier in Migori County and said a public ferry in Kisumu was nearing completion. The ferry is expected to improve passenger transport and strengthen connectivity among communities around the lake.

Omollo said the government’s blue economy strategy extended beyond fishing to include water transport, trade and other businesses capable of creating employment and improving household incomes.

He challenged BMU officials to strengthen their Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations through increased membership, transparency and sound financial management to enable fishermen to access financing and expand their businesses.

“BMUs must strengthen their SACCOs through increased membership, transparent financial management and improved governance to ensure that members benefit from their collective resources,” he said.

He also encouraged fishing households to diversify their income through complementary ventures such as integrated poultry farming.

The PS said the government was constructing more than 600 markets nationally, with modern facilities incorporating electricity, water and cold storage to improve trading conditions and reduce exploitation by middlemen.

Improved road networks, he added, would connect landing sites to markets and commercial centres, easing transportation of fish and other products.

Omollo disclosed that President William Ruto was expected to visit the Lake Victoria region in the coming weeks to launch construction of the approximately 500-kilometre Lake Victoria Ring Road, linking Migori to Busia.

He said the road, alongside the revival of stalled projects and construction of new routes, would strengthen economic activity across counties bordering the lake.

The PS called on BMU leaders, security agencies and National Government Administration Officers to work together to ensure that government investments translate into better livelihoods for fishing communities.

He said the fishing industry deserved investment and attention comparable to other agricultural sectors, including coffee, tea, dairy and sugarcane.