Kenya Ports Authority is investing in at least six feeder ports along Lake Victoria in renewed effort to boost Kisumu Port’s performance and increase the country’s regional trade share.
This comes as Kisumu’s cargo handling capacity is envisioned to more than triple in the short-term on the back of growing trade between Kenya and other East African Community countries.
EAC remains Kenya’s main export market accounting for 70.2 per cent of the total revenues from Africa, with Uganda and Tanzania, which touch the lake being top trading partners.
Small ports being developed or rehabilitated include Sio Pier and Port Victoria in Busia county, Asembo Bay pier (Siaya) and Kendu Bay, Homa Bay and Mbita piers.
KPA said it is keen to enhance cargo movement and tap the huge potential in the region’s blue economy .
Managing director William Ruto who is on a tour of the facilities, ahead of the Nyanza International Investment Conference, which starts on Thursday, said the development of small ports is part of KPA’s strategy to improve maritime infrastructure in the area.
“In the end, these initiatives are set to not only enhance transportation but also breathe new life into economic activities around Lake Victoria,” Ruto said when he met Busia governor Paul Otuoma.
He said nearly 85 per cent of transit cargo into the neighbouring landlocked countries, served mainly by the Port of Mombasa; flows through the Busia border hence the need for safer and quicker lake transport options.
Governor Otuoma said the opportunities that the lake transportation offers, particularly its potential to create more jobs for the local communities.
Last year, transit cargo volumes scaled by 17.4 per cent to reach 13.4 million tonnes, latest KPA data shows, with the region mainly served by the Port of Mombasa and road transport through the Northern Corridor, with some volumes moving by lake through Kisumu Port.
Uganda remains the top transit destination accounting for 65.7 per cent of transit cargo with 8.8 million tonnes handled in 2024, up from 7.1 million tonnes.
Other notable transit destinations
include South Sudan (12.7 per cent),
the Democratic
Republic of Congo (11.8 per cent),
Rwanda (5.1 per cent) and Tanzania
(3.4 per cent).