New public ferry to connect Kisumu, Homa Bay and surrounding islands

BRENDA ODINDO AND SITNA OMAR-KNA

Plans to boost water transport on Lake Victoria are gathering momentum as the government moves closer to launching a new public ferry expected to transform the movement of people and goods across the region.

The project received a major boost after the National Treasury allocated Sh150 million in the 2026/2027 budget to complete the vessel, which is being assembled by Kenya Shipyards Limited in Kisumu.

The ferry is expected to be commissioned later this year as part of broader efforts to revive maritime transport on the lake. Once operational, it will connect Kisumu, Kendu Bay, Homa Bay, and Muhuru Bay, while extending services to remote islands, including Mfangano.

The service is expected to provide a cheaper and safer transport alternative, while also opening up new trade opportunities for communities around the lake.

Construction of supporting infrastructure is also nearing completion. Piers in Muhuru Bay and Homa Bay Town, which will serve as key docking points, are more than 95 percent complete, according to government officials overseeing the project.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, recently announced additional funding for Lake transport infrastructure, including allocations for the rehabilitation of Mbita and Sena piers in Homa Bay County.

The network of piers will be managed by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), with officials saying the facilities are expected to play a key role in unlocking the economic potential of Lake Victoria through trade, fisheries and tourism.

Interior Principal Secretary, Dr Raymond Omollo said the project is aligned with the government’s Blue-Economy agenda and will complement ongoing investments in road infrastructure, including the upgraded Masara–Muhuru Bay road. 

For many years, communities around Homa Bay and Muhuru Bay have depended largely on road transport despite their strategic location along the shores of Lake Victoria.

Leaders and residents have long advocated for the revival of lake transport, citing lower costs, improved safety and greater efficiency.

At Muhuru Bay, construction works include a 50 by 30 meters reinforced concrete jetty designed to accommodate larger vessels, cold storage facilities for fish, perimeter security installations and an administration block for port and customs services.

A similar facility is taking shape in Homa Bay Town, where ongoing works include terminal buildings, warehouses, power houses, a ferry waiting bay, security checkpoints and water storage facilities.

Both ports will host One-Stop Border Posts aimed at facilitating trade and movement across the lake region.

According to Omollo, the modern port facilities are expected to reduce post-harvest losses among fishermen, improve fish handling and storage and strengthen links between emerging ports in Homa Bay, Sori and Kisumu.

“The State Department for Internal Security and National Administration is providing maritime security enforcement to regulate cross-border movement and safeguard infrastructure,” Omollo said.

He added that the modernization of the lake transport network would position Homa Bay and Migori counties as important centres for trade, transport and tourism, while improving livelihoods for communities living around the lake basin.

Local traders have welcomed the developments, saying improved water transport will reduce the cost of doing business and shorten travel times between key towns and landing sites.