The County Government of Siaya, through its Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development, yesterday convened a high-level multi-agency consultative meeting in Usenge Town to deliberate on the planned construction of the proposed Usenge Port and a modern fish market.
The session, which was chaired by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Mr. Maurice McOrege, brought together key national and county stakeholders with the aim of streamlining strategies for the successful implementation of these flagship projects.
Central to the discussions was the comprehensive infrastructural development required in and around the designated sites for the port and the fish market. Stakeholders explored critical components such as road networks, drainage systems, water and electricity supply, and other essential urban utilities that will support both the port operations and the fish trading activities.
The proposed modern fish market is expected to transform the fisheries sector by providing a clean, well-organized, and value-driven marketplace for local fishermen and traders. Similarly, the Usenge Port, once operational, will strengthen lake transport and regional trade, connecting Siaya County more effectively to neighboring counties and to the East African lake transport network.
The meeting also recognized the tourism potential of the surrounding areas. Notably, Usenge Hill and the scenic public beach along the lakefront were identified as untapped tourism assets. Stakeholders underscored the need to integrate tourism development into the master plan so as to create additional employment opportunities and stimulate local economic growth.
Participants strongly recommended the development of a comprehensive land use plan for Usenge Town to guide sustainable growth and prevent unplanned developments. The meeting further implored the County Government to invest in land banking, a strategic initiative to acquire and reserve land for future urban expansion and public utilities.
Given the magnitude of the proposed developments, stakeholders emphasized the importance of strict development control within the urban area to ensure orderly growth and to protect the integrity of the planned infrastructure.
Present at the meeting were representatives from KeNHA, KURA, KeRRA, the State Department of Housing, the County Government, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and the Kenya Ports Authority.