Homa Bay bets on Ksh.345 million modern market to boost blue economy

In addition to these extremely unfavourable conditions, the traders counted losses almost daily as fish, which is perishable, often rotted within hours. 

In May 2025, President William Ruto commissioned the Homa Bay modern market, after which the traders moved from ramshackle roadside tables to hygienic workspaces and modern retail stalls, with a new food court.

President Ruto described the facility not just as a market but as “a new beginning for the people who depend on the lake for their livelihood”. 

On her part, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said the facility “will change lives and serve as a catalyst for growth and job creation”.

The national government and Homa Bay County are betting on the facility, built at Koginga Pier on Lake Victoria, to shore up the blue economy. 

Charles Amolo, a secretary at the market, says the new facility is a big improvement from the previous open-air market.

“Traders used to operate in very poor conditions. The change is immense,” he says.

According to Amolo, the market is recording a higher number of buyers, attracted by the modern facilities that enable traders to uphold hygiene in handling food. This has led to increased sales for traders. 

“I used to lose half my fish. Today, nothing will go to waste,” says Mary Atieno, a fish trader in the market.

Previously, traders were conducting their businesses in a tough environment which lacked stalls and infrastructure like roads.

Aside from delivering a clean and secure environment for businesses, the market boasts essential amenities, including clean water and reliable electricity.

It also features storage rooms, which have significantly cut post-harvest losses that once claimed up to half a day’s catch. 

Additionally, the market has a dedicated fish processing area, complete with gutting and scaling zones, giving mama samaki a clean place in which to operate. 

Another notable change in the market is the landing side, where the fisherfolk now dock at a new mooring deck and offload their catch in a covered fish landing shed, a huge difference from the previous muddy beaches. 

The market also has an ICT hub to support digital payments and recordkeeping, and 24-hour lighting for safety.

Mother-and-child facilities and PWD-friendly access ramps ensure no one is left behind.

The market has also been designed to boost both county and national revenue by supporting value addition and reducing waste.

Pius Oketch, a revenue officer at Homa Bay County, says the market has brought numerous benefits not only to the traders but also to the devolved unit, adding that revenue collection at the market has risen significantly. 

“Our revenue collection is up 50 % since the traders began operating from the market,” states Mr Oketch.

Nearby, the Rody Kopany market is also undergoing the last phases of construction.