The Kenya Martime Authorities in collaboration with the county government of Migori have began the construction of a Search and Rescue Center at Sori beach.
The center is among the five which the government plans to construct in all the Lake Victoria catchment counties in an effort to address transport safety in the lake.
The Kenya Maritme Authorities Director General Robert Njue while addressing the fisher folk during the handing over of the construction site said the rescue center will have communication equipment linked to Kisumu and the international rescue center in Mombasa to speed up response.
He however called on the fisher folk to be proactive saying the Kenya Maritime Authority shall shall train and equip them with the necessary skills required for their safety in the lake.
Mr. Njue at the same time assured the locals that they shall be incorporated in the construction works. The secretary of administration Mr. Fredrick Shisia who represented the Principal Secretary in the state Department for Shipping and Maritime Nancy Karigithu, said the trans border infrastructure initiative will address transport and safety interventions .
Migori governor Okoth Obado on his side said the project will boost the economy and improve the quality of fish along the lake region. He stressed on the need to establish dryers and fish handling equipment to reduce wastage witnessed with the unpredictable weather conditions and contaminations.
In 2019, Migori county harvested 3,036,828 tonnes of fish with a sale of Kshs.644 million.
By LTN Reporter
