The County Government of Kisumu has today February 4,2025 partnered with Kenya Shipyards Limited under the leadership of Major General Said M. Farah, Managing Director of Kenya Shipyards Limited to commission the manufacture and supply of six modern fiberglass boats to revolutionize fishing and transport on Lake Victoria.
The move Governor Anyang Nyong’o said underscores Kisumu County’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of fisherfolk and enhancing maritime safety on Lake Victoria.
Of the six fiberglass state-of-the-art boats, five of them are set to be allocated to fishermen in Kisumu Central, Seme, Kisumu West, Nyakach, and Kadibo sub-counties. The sixth boat will be used by the Directorate of Fisheries to enhance monitoring and surveillance efforts on the lake.
A statement from the county government of Kisumu highlighted that the boats are set to be equipped with 15–25 horsepower engines, each boat includes cooler boxes with a capacity of 500 kilograms, life jackets, flares, and essential safety equipment.
The modern boat’s design shift is expected to improve safety and efficiency for lake users while reducing reliance on traditional wooden boats, which have been linked to numerous safety incidents.
“This initiative is designed to encourage a shift from wooden boats to fiberglass vessels, which are more durable and safer. Our ultimate goal is to phase out wooden boats to prevent tragedies on the lake,” Governor Nyong’o has confirmed.
Speaking during the inspection of the ongoing construction of the boats at the Kisumu facility Governor Anyang Nyong’o urged the fishermen and beach management to channel their issues to the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS ) Agriculture for ease of follow up and address.
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