Raila Commissions Dredging of Lake Victoria

ODM leader, Raila Odinga on Saturday launched the dredging of Lake Victoria in preparation for the official opening of Kisumu Port.

The dredging is part of the efforts to allow larger ships to dock at the port, which is being renovated for Sh3 billion.

The harbor has remained dormant since the collapse of the East Africa Community (EAC) in 1978.

Speaking during the commissioning of the dredging exercise, Odinga said the revival of the port and the meter-gauge railway line to Kisumu will boost the region’s economy.

Odinga, who is the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa, said the dig up will expand the port’s length by 400 meters, allowing over 10 ships to dock at a go.

“They are going to extend the length of the Port by another 400 meters, meaning that more ships can dock in Kisumu at the same time, I am told that about ten ships can dock here at the same time,” he said.

He added that an oil jetty at the facility will serve many vessels ferrying fuel to neighboring Tanzania and Uganda, hence creating business and job opportunities.

Odinga indicated that other feeder ports including Karungu Bay, Homa Bay, Kendu Bay, Sio Port, Muhuru Bay, and Manyala Port will also be revamped to make them vibrant.

“All those feeder ports are also going to be rehabilitated so that smaller boats can go to those ports to take goods and be taken to other destinations,” he added.

He was in the company of Ethiopian Ambassador to Kenya Meles Alem, and Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o.