By: Emily Mikwa
The County Directorate of Fisheries and Blue Economy today hosted a milestone Open Day at the VicinAqua Hatchery, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to champion the theme of creating awareness and disseminating integrated aqua-agriculture practices.
The event, held today marked a significant step in Kisumu’s journey toward food security and sustainable resource management, brought on board fish farmers from Nyakach, muhoroni, nyando, Kisumu West, seme and Kisumu central.
Participants explored innovative ways to merge fish farming with environmentally friendly agricultural techniques, aiming to share knowledge and encourage best practices that protect the local ecosystem while boosting economic returns for the community.
Speaking as the chief guest, Sub-County Administrator Peter Abiero challenged local producers to scale their production and adopt a business-oriented mindset to ensure their ventures remain profitable.
While acknowledging the “glaring” staff inadequacies and the persistent challenges surrounding feed formulation and the scarcity of certified fingerlings, he emphasized that the solution lies in the power of unity.
He encouraged the formation of cooperatives to better navigate the forces of demand and supply and proposed a dedicated aquaculture conference to advise on policy matters, noting that data-driven management is essential because “if you cannot count it, it did not happen”.
Director Susan Clair Adhiambo highlighted the remarkable transformation of the VicinAqua site, which has evolved from a once-neglected area into a sophisticated technology transfer center.
She detailed how the facility simplifies complicated systems, successfully piloting the use of wastewater in agriculture and mentoring emerging companies such as Aquaban, Saniwise, and Smart Aqua Hive.
Through these partnerships, the center has produced tangible outputs like Hesao feeds and Carbice cooler boxes, effectively linking farmers to a robust value chain that promotes agro-ecology and organic production methods like Black Soldier Fly farming.
Charles Kakuku the Director livestock, lauded the facility for its self-sufficiency, noting that it continues to thrive well beyond its initial donor-funded phase.
He pointed to the hatchery as clear evidence of practical development, specifically citing its role in creating self-employment opportunities for residents.
This sentiment was echoed by representatives from the Water Resources Authority, who pledged continued collaboration to ensure that the water used in fishponds remains safe, protecting both the health of the fish and the consumers.
Other partners and stakeholders joined the call for innovation, with KIWASCO highlighting the importance of closed-loop sanitation to address water scarcity through reuse.
Private sector leaders, including the CEO of Aquaban, shared their journey from volunteering to form specialized companies that aggregate fingerlings and provide platforms for farmers to showcase their products.
Experts from the State Department of Fisheries further addressed “the elephant in the room”—the high cost of fish feed—while suggesting that marketing cooperatives could provide the necessary leverage to improve profit margins.
Together, these voices formed a corroborated vision of a modern aquaculture sector that empowers the youth and utilizes every available resource to drive Kisumu’s blue economy forward.
