Fish farming investor, Victory Group, expects to increase fish production capacity following the operationalization of its newest hatchery in Homa Bay County.
The launch marks a major milestone for the aquaculture company, which has spent the last decade developing sustainable fish farming operations across the Lake Region.
Victory Group Chief Aquaculture Officer and Co-founder Steve Moran said the new hatchery has the capacity to produce 30,000 tons of fish annually, equivalent to 60 million fish or one kilogram of fish per Kenyan.
“This state-of-the-art facility will enable Victory Group to produce even more fish every single year to feed Kenya’s ever growing population. Last year we produced enough fish, one fish per person, this building will allow Victory to produce three fishes per person every year,” said Moran.
The facility is designed to support two fish farming concessions, with fingerlings produced at the hatchery transported to grow-out sites and later processed at a nearby processing plant for nationwide distribution.
The project aligns with government efforts to close the gap between fish demand and supply. Dr. Simon Macharia, representing the Director General of Kenya Fisheries Service, noted that Kenya currently produces only a quarter of the national fish demand of 450,000 metric tons.
He emphasized the government’s support for private sector investments like Victory Farms, promoting cage fish farming to reduce over-reliance on declining wild fish stocks in Lake Victoria.
“Part of what the government is doing is to promote the private sector. This production facility will not only be utilized by Victory Farms, but also the fingerlings will be used by other farmers within the region and even outside this reagion,” added Macharia.
Local leaders welcomed the development, highlighting its potential to transform the local economy. Joab Ikawa, Secretary of the Kaksingri Council of Elders, underscored the employment opportunities the facility brings to youth and retirees who can lease land for pond farming.
He urged both national and county governments to improve infrastructure, especially roads, to facilitate swift transportation of perishable fish products.
Walter Odiga, Assistant Chief of the host sublocation and representative of Kaksingri West Location, praised Victory Farms for reducing crime and unemployment in the area over the past decade.
He acknowledged the positive impact of the hatchery in improving livelihoods for both youth and women through job creation and increased household income.
