KISUMU —On the shores of Lake Victoria, hope is swelling along with the morning tide.
As Kenya gears up to mark its 62nd Madaraka Day in Homa Bay this weekend, the country’s fisherfolk say they finally feel heard. This year’s theme “Harnessing Kenya’s Blue Economy for Sustainable Growth” has struck a chord with communities that have long depended on the lake, but say they’ve been left adrift amid dwindling catches and little support.
“We’ve waited for this kind of attention for years,” said Tom Guda, national chairman of the Beach Management Units (BMUs), a grassroots body that oversees fishing operations across the lake.
Speaking ahead of the week-long celebrations, Guda called the focus on the blue economy “a landmark moment” for the region’s maritime future.
“We are appealing to the government to work with us not just to fish more, but to fish better, and to build new ways of making a living from the lake,” he told media in an interview in Kisumu.
A Lake in Decline
Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, supports millions across East Africa. But its bounty is under threat. Overfishing, pollution, and poor regulation have seen fish stocks fall dramatically over the past decade. For many, the catch just isn’t what it used to be.
“There are too many boats chasing too few fish,” Guda said. “We’re seeing people coming in without training, without plans, just trying to survive. It’s not sustainable.”
According to Guda, the theme of this year’s celebrations should prompt a wider national conversation not just about conserving fish stocks, but about diversifying the entire lake economy.
He’s pushing for more support in aquaculture, where fish are farmed in controlled environments, and in eco-tourism, renewable energy, and transport all sectors he believes could lift communities out of poverty while easing the pressure on the lake.
Promises and Policy
The government has already begun investing in some of those areas. The expansion of Kisumu port, completed last year, has opened up new trade routes across the region. The refurbished port can now handle up to 50,000 containers annually, offering a lifeline to landlocked neighbours like Uganda and Rwanda.
But Guda says more needs to be done to turn Lake Victoria into a fully-fledged economic corridor.
“We see passenger ferries and cargo vessels coming back. That’s progress,” he said. “But it needs to be matched with training, safety, infrastructure so local people benefit, not just big operators.”
The national celebrations, set to culminate in Homa Bay on 1 June, will feature a high-profile blue economy conference at the lakefront. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is expected to launch the event on Thursday. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will deliver a keynote on Friday, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame will officially close the conference on Saturday.
President William Ruto is set to host Kagame afterward at the Homa Bay State Lodge.
A Watershed Moment?
For fisherfolk like Guda, the week is more than ceremony it’s a chance to set a new course for the lake.
“We’ve been surviving, not thriving,” he said. “This is about creating real alternatives so people don’t have to depend only on what they pull out of the water.”
He hopes the conference will bring clarity, funding, and a long-overdue commitment to save Lake Victoria from collapse.
“There’s still time,” Guda said. “But the lake won’t wait forever.”
