Operations at the government-sponsored Sh140 million Luanda K’Otieno fish landing and cold storage plant in Siaya county will finally take off this month.
The multimillion fish processing plant and ice production facility was commissioned by the then Fisheries and Blue Economy CS Najib Balala in November 2024, before it was handed over to an investor, Vemric Enterprise, in early 2025.
Vemric Enterprise Chief Operations Officer Kenedy Komba, who addressed the press after a stakeholder meeting that included members of the Lwanda K’Otieno beach community explained that the delay was occasioned by logistical bureaucracies and structural challenges that had to be addressed before initiating a take-off.
It emerged that the delay was only unlocked after the Siaya County government gave the firm the final green light after a year marked by bottlenecks and hitches of compliance and related regulatory issues.
Komba explained that the investor had to inject funds to improve the facility to international standards that would enable them get certification to export fish to external markets like the European Union.
He disclosed that government bureaucratic processes involved in getting compliance certificates and licences from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) contributed to the delay.
The Chief Operations Officer also disclosed that the ice-making machine at the facility was prone to frequent breakdowns that cost the investor over $2000 to repair each time it broke down, besides the frequent power outages in the area, which pushed the investor to spend over $70 each day on a diesel generator, which was not economical.
Komba disclosed that after the meeting with fisheries stakeholders and community members, they reached an agreement with the fishermen to sell their fish to the company at a reasonable price and not take advantage of the investor by hiking the price of fish.
“One of the challenges we faced when we came in was pricing of fish. There was a notion locally that investors have a lot of money, so one kilo of fish which is sold for Sh550 in Nairobi, was sold to us for between Sh700 and Sh800 locally.
“We have met the fishermen and agreed that for the company to operate the prices must be realistic and sustainable,” said Komba
The Operations Officer said that they had managed to resolve major issues that had hindered takeoff but were still engaging with the Kenya Power Company to find a lasting solution to perennial outages, which remain a burden to their operations.
He said that the enterprise remains committed to the agreements signed with the county government of Siaya to employ at least 50 percent locally, revealing that so far they have recruited 60 percent of their staff from the area in different cadres like casuals, security, filters, and trimmers.
The fish processing plant has the capacity to process 15 tonnes of fish each day, with the company undertaking value addition and market linkages.
Rarieda Sub-county Beach Management Unit Coordinator George Otuoma confirmed that the stakeholders’ meeting had resolved that the community support the company taking off by selling their fish at reasonable prices and sourcing fish from other beaches within the county for an adequate and steady supply of the raw material.
“Lwanda K’ Otieno beach alone cannot supply the company with 15 tonnes of fish every day, so we have reached out to over ten beaches in Rarieda to boost the supply,” Otuoma said
Asha Amari, a local fisherman expressed optimism that the fish processing company would stabilise fish prices and create employment for the people.
Beatrice Atieno Otieno, a fishmonger, observed that the operation of the company will be a reprieve for many fishermen, who incurred huge losses with their fish going bad due to lack of storage facilities.
“We are happy that the plant will boost fish trade at the locality and it will be a blessing for fishermen who come late with their catch, who now have a cold storage facility within their reach,” said Atieno.
By Brian Ondeng
