President Ruto promises to build Ksh.100M fish landing site in Siaya

President William Ruto has promised to build a Ksh.100 million fish landing site in Siaya County during his tour in the Nyanza region.

Speaking on day three of the Piny Luo Cultural Festival held at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium, the president said the investment would spur the region’s fishing economy by supporting the local community.

He pointed out that the project would also complement the fishing industry, as a tradition and culture in the Lakeside.

“As part of carrying this culture and tradition to the next level, we will build a fish landing site at a cost of Ksh.100 million to support the fishing community. As we celebrate this culture, we know that culture is evolving,” he said.

The head of state also gazetted two cultural heritage sites in the county namely;  Ramogi Forest and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Moselium which he said would play a vital role in preserving the country’s heritage and culture.

“We have gazetted two cultural heritage sites here in Siaya. Ramogi Forest is now a nationally certified cultural heritage and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Moselium which was gazetted earlier,” he said.

President Ruto lauded the region for upholding its culture and preserving Kenya’s cultural heritage and committed to gazetting another seven sites in the area if they meet the required threshold.

The seven sites include Cell Blocs in Oyamo Islands, Paramount Chief Odera Akang’o’s office as a cultural site, Nomiya Church site, Owiny Sigoma Heritage Complex, Mageta Island Mau Mau detention camp, Migwena Cultural Ground and Sirgombe Island.

“As the government, we are also accessing other 7 sites that have historical, cultural and traditional significance in Siaya with the possibility that they meet the threshold for us to gazette,” Ruto noted.

“The Ministry of Culture and Heritage is working with the counties to make sure we have these sites which will act as Beacons of culture and heritage.”

The event was graced by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is eyeing the Africa Union Commission Chairmanship, Governors, Senators, MPs and other leaders.

The president at the same time drummed up support for Raila's Africa Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship bid, reiterating that his victory would be a win not only for the East Africa region but also for the entire continent.

“This celebration also confirms to us that our quest as East Africa to put forward the candidature of Raila Odinga is the correct thing to do because Odinga is not a candidate for Kenya but a candidate for East Africa,” Ruto stated.

“Before we rolled out his candidature we went to Mzee Museveni as the elder and spoke to all East African heads of state and confirmed that we had the right candidate to champion the unity and success of Africa as a continent. Raila Odinga has a proven track record as a four-sighted uniting factor.”