The government has licenced fish producing company Victory Farms in Homa Bay county to increase its production and employ more people.
President William Ruto said his administration permitted Victory Farms to expand its business operations in Lake Victoria after assessment results revealed that its activities are environmental friendly.
The licence was also given after President Ruto made commitment to support investors whose objectives run in tandem with those of the government in creating jobs for the youth and increasing food production.
Victory Farms had requested the government to give it a permit to allow expansion of its activities in the lake.
Currently, Victory Farms produces more than 90 million tonnes of fish annually and has employed at least 1,300 people directly and indirectly.
"I'm pleased with the undertakings of Victory Farms. The licence issued is an indication that we're committed and ready to support investors who want to help us transform our economy,” Ruto said.
Speaking on Saturday when he toured the firm at Roo village in Suba South constituency, President Ruto said his government has allocated Sh900 million to build landing sites around Lake Victoria to enhance production of fish.
The landing sites include Wakula and Nyandiwa (Homa Bay), Lwanda Kotieno and Wich Lum (Siaya), and Ogal and Asai in Kisumu.
The President was accompanied by Cabinet secretaries Salim Mvurya (Mining and Blue Economy), Kipchumba Murkomen (Roads and Transport) and Eliud Owalo (ICT and Digital Economy).
Interior PS Raymond Omollo was also present.
They were hosted by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi and Homa Bay county assembly majority leader Richard Ogindo.
Ruto launched the tarmacking of 34km Mfangano Island and Rusinga ring roads and another 74km Mbita-Magunga-Kiabuya-Sori road.
The roads and the rehabilitation of Homa Bay, Mbita and Kendu Bay piers will support business operations around the lake.
The Kenya Kwanza government is constructing Kabonyo Kanyagwal Fisheries Aquaculture Service and Training Centre in Kisumu county.
People will be trained on how to undertake a sustainable fishing production.
At the firm, the President and the team visited the hatchery, fish processing centre and small-holder ponds to observe circular agriculture model.
“In the next nine months, we're going to help Victory Farms in restocking Lake Victoria. The government will pump in Sh7 million fingerlings to support production of fish in the lake,” Ruto said.
Last month, Victory Farms in partnership with KMFRI started restocking the lake with oreochromic esculentus tilapia.
Firm chief executive officer Caesar Asiyo said they restocked more than 4,000 fingerlings of the tilapia species.
“The identified breeding sites are protected to support proliferation of fish in the lake,” Asiyo said.
The government is considering stopping fish importation from China as a way of promoting local investments. Ruto urged Nyanza residents to provide conducive environment for more investments.
“I want the people of Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu and Siaya to remain peaceful so that more investors can come in,” the President added.
Mvurya said the blue economy sector still has a huge potential to support and improve the economic situation of Kenya.
He urged residents to tap into such opportunities.
“The government will continue to support Victory Farms for the benefit of the Kenyan people,” Mvuria said.
The Homa Bay government gave Victory Farms an opportunity to use its stall to showcase its activities during this year's county governments’ devolution conference in Eldoret.
Governor Wanga said they will collaborate more with Victory Farms for improved production.
“Victory Farms is an industrial production of its kind. It has hired youths as employees and Its expansion will ensure more and more people access employment,” Wanga said.
