The County Government has begun plans to establish a fish processing plant in Kalokol, Turkana Central Sub County. County Executive for Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries David Erukudi today led a team of officers from the department in the assessment of sites for the construction of the proposed plant.
The team which included area MCA visited Nameritaaba, Natumkumwo, Legio and Erus-a-Ilimanyang areas of Kalokol Ward that have been identified as potential areas for the plant.
The County Executive said that the Government was keen on starting the project to boost the socio-economy of residents whose main source of livelihood is fishing. He raised concern over under-size fishing that he said threatens the future of the fishing industry in Lake Turkana.
CECM Erukudi said the ministry will work with the area leadership to establish more development projects that will develop the fish value chain as well as attract more investors along Lake Turkana.
County Chief Officer for Livestock Development and Fisheries Lokidap Nakoel observed that the ministry had settled on Kalokol because of its strategic location that can serve the other wards where fishing activities are being undertaken. He insisted that the site for the proposed site would consider the availability of power, water and enough land.
Area MCA Michael Epem welcomed the ministry’s decision to establish the plant in Kalokol and called for strictness to ensure that contractors do quality work. The team also visited other fisheries projects and interacted with fishermen who shared their ambitious proposals that should be factored into future County Government budgets. They also made a visit to Daraja BMU to assess the ongoing assembling of wooden boats meant to increase fish catch. Also present was Fisheries Director Robert Kibunja.