Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Kisumu County is urging government corporations with huge chunks
of land along the shores of Lake Victoria to let investors use them as a
launch pad for development.
As a starting point,
Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o said he has initiated talks with the Kenya
Railways and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) which own huge tracts of land
to provide space for investors who want to set up multibillion shilling
ventures.
The county plans to set up floating restaurants and a boat assembly plant on the lake if plans take root.
“We
want to start using the idle land as we wait for them to be transferred
to the counties,” said Prof Nyong’o’s economic adviser and head of
Strategic Delivery Unit George Omondi.
Prof Nyong’o has
already set up a county working team to work on plans of opening up the
maritime sector, which will be discussed with other government agencies
and non-governmental players, including the civil societies and
religious groups this week.
“The team will produce the
Kisumu County strategy paper on the blue economy and establish a linkage
with the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) which is a 14-member body,”
he said.
The fresh water lake is a shared resource by
Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori and Busia counties who are members of
LREB. Other members are Trans Nzoia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Kericho,
Nandi, Bomet, Nyamira and Kisii.
Apart
from State corporations, the Kisumu County government is also in talks
with the business community around the lake to relocate and give room
for expansion plans aimed at utilising the blue economy sector.
"Some
of the places we target include businesses around Obote Road and
Lwang'ni area which lie around Lake Victoria," said Mr Omondi.
“We
will not forcibly evict the tenants, but we are going to have a
discussion to ensure that they also understand and see the need to
embrace the transformation that will strategically make Kisumu the
business hub of the region,” he said.
Mr Omondi
expressed optimism that modern boats and a ferry to link Kisumu with the
neighbouring counties and both Tanzania and Uganda will drastically
lower the cost of living and promote food security in the region.
Kusa
Beach Management Unit member Francis Awino said improvement of maritime
transport will expand their market as fishermen can easily transport
their catch to where the demand is high. “At the moment, movement from
one end to the other is an expensive affair as we have to hire boats
which are even more expensive,” said Mr Awino.
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