Kenya Maritime Authority Pumps 3.5 Billion to Curb Lake Victoria Deaths
By Harrison Kivisu
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) has pledged to fully utilize the recently launched sh 3.5 billion maritime Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) once its construction is completed to heighten safety at Lake Victoria.
The investment will enhance transportation and communication, and establish five rescue centers across Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori counties.
The project aims to make Lake Victoria a safer place for all who use it, ensuring that young people engaged in fishing can work without fear of accidents.
The government funded project construction has commenced to ensure that the fishermen and all those using Lake Victoria have a safe environment.
While launching the project last Month, President William Ruto highlighted the alarming statistic that 5,000 people lose their lives in Lake Victoria each year.
He expressed his government’s commitment to reducing these deaths by ensuring that those who depend on the lake for their livelihoods can do so safely, thus contributing to the country’s food security.
The project is estimated to cost about Kshs.3.2 billion and the Kenya Shipyard Limited is the contractor for the project which is expected to take 8 months to complete.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre will be built and operated by the Kenya Maritime Authority who are set to revamp the provision of optimum and efficient search and rescue services within the Lake Victoria region and other inland water bodies.
Such services will ensure safety of navigation, secure water transportation and promote economic activities.
During the groundbreaking for the Lake Victoria Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre President William Ruto reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to revive the Blue economy sector, enhance maritime safety and strengthen Search and Rescue (SAR) operation for communities that depend on the Lake for their livelihoods.
There have been numerous cases of vessels capsizing and deaths due to unfavourable weather and drowning.
The 5 search and rescue centres highlighted by the President are projected to greatly assist in prompt coordination of search and rescue operations to save lives of the people who depend on the Lake for their daily livelihoods.
KMA’s Director General, Eng. Martin Dzombo Munga says, “The centre will coordinate rescue operations on the Lake in collaboration with Uganda and Tanzania as the Government moves to revive transport linking the three countries through the Lake.”
The Director General further said “the centre will be operational for 24 hours daily including holidays.”
KMA plans to operationalize the Lake Victoria Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre through construction of a Search and Rescue Regional Centre in Kisumu County serving other Search and Rescue Centres (SRC) in Siaya, Homabay, Migori and Busia Counties.
KMA’s Director of Maritime Safety, Eng. Julius Koech, says “The project will ensure safe, secure water transportation, enhanced GSM network on the entire lake region, dispatch of resources that will pin-point the exact origin of a distress call and enhanced communication technology including a toll-free communication to enable the public to promptly relay distress calls.”
Eng. Koech added thatthe Authority will first ensure that all vessels in the Lake region are inspected for safety to ensure they have life-saving appliances like the life jackets onboard vessels. He also noted that the centre will also be equipped with rescue assets including search and rescue boats, ambulances and evacuation helicopters.
The Project Consultant highlighted that the project entails construction of a jetty that will be multifunctional for use by all government agencies within the area.
The government agencies will be involved in the coordination of search and rescue operations. It is also anticipated that the facility will also have a security control centre, an operational centre, a communication room, a training room where Kenya Maritime Authority will continue to conduct training for Coxswains and Fisher folk .
The facility will also have a search and rescue regional coordination office that will enable the Kenya Maritime Authority to achieve its mandate as the lead agency in Search and Rescue operations.”
The ground breaking ceremony for the Lake Victoria Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre project marked a great milestone for the country and for the Lake region in support of a safer maritime environment for socio-economic activities, exploitation of the blue economy and creation of employment opportunities for the youth.
Kenya Maritime Authority statutory functions under section 5 of the KMA Act mandates the Authority with the responsibility of maritime search and rescue and coordinating the activities of both state and non-state entities during maritime search and rescue operations.
The Blue economy sector provides various opportunities for socio-economic development in wealth creation, the creation of employment opportunities and boosting investments which help in poverty reduction and creation of a cohesive society.
Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake by area with socio-economic activities taking place such as fishing, passenger transport, agriculture, water tourism and recreation.
While the lake provides socio-economic opportunities to the population, inadequate infrastructure, uncoordinated transport strategy and poor communication network for the Lake has resulted in its underutilization. Similarly, the region lacks a comprehensive navigation and safety system to protect those who use them and assist them during emergencies.
