Chair lady Obunga fish market holding fish frames also known as ‘mgongo wazi (Picture by David Wadulo)
By Emily Mikwa
The Obunga Fish Market is a source of livelihood for 300 households in Kisumu.
The 300 traders handling value addition on Nile Perch by products from the factory have organized themselves into four groups under one umbrella .
They include widows, single mothers and youths who depend on the fish byproducts to fend for their families.
The Nile perch byproducts comprise of fish skin, fish frames also called ‘mgongo wazi’, fish eggs, fish fats, bones, intestines and fish fillets.
Scaling the fish skins
From the byproducts that they buy from factories such as the Sea Foods in Kisumu and Lake Treasures in Mbita, they produce human food, chicken feeds, pig feeds, fish feeds , leather, organic manure and jewelry.
According to the Chair lady Madam Rose Atieno, nothing from the fish goes to waste. She attested to the fact that the business venture has enabled them educate their children, feed their families and even pay rent on a monthly basis.
Through capacity building program organized by the ASDSP on value addition, the secretary, Mr. Remjius Odhiambo said they acquired more skills on how to make samosas, Kebabs, jewelry, record keeping and how to prepare clean food that attracts more customers.
Fish intestines used to make food for pigs and organic manure
On her part, Madam Carren Onyango one of group organizers and a committee member, thanked ASDSP for constructing a facility with tap water saying they are able to wash their products with clean water, make their work environment clean and even drink clean tap water. Previously, she added that the traders used to work in the open air where they suffered from the harsh vagaries of weather but today they are sheltered.
Madam Syprine Adhiambo the Assistant chair lady expressed her gratitude for the support by ASDSP however, they are requesting for a cold room where they can store the fish byproducts. She explains that it’s only one factory in Kisumu supplying them with the products and another one in Mbita that comes twice a week and since the supply is low and they can only purchase what they can sell, then the cold room would be sufficient in that they can buy more products and store so that they are in business throughout the seasons.
Obunga Fish Market
The ASDSP also supported them with four special jikos that are health friendly hence they are requesting for more. Apart from health issues, the jikos use little firewood and so they are able to save. Initially, they bought and used firewood for Ksh. 1,000 but with the special jikos they use firewood at Ksh. 500 hence savings on the cost.