Kenya’s ABDP rolls out plan to upgrade fishing infrastructure in key riparian counties

KENYA – The Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP), a flagship programme funded jointly by the Government of Kenya and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has announced plans to construct nine modern fish landing sites in five counties bordering Lake Victoria. 

The initiative is expected to boost post-harvest handling, reduce fish losses, and improve hygienic standards in fish processing.

The landing sites, to be built in Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori counties, represent a strategic investment in Kenya’s aquaculture and inland fisheries sectors. 

The counties are among the 15 identified by ABDP as having high potential for aquaculture development under the programme.

To this end, ABDP has advertised an international tender for the construction works, inviting eligible contractors to submit bids under an International Competitive Bidding (ICB) process in accordance with the IFAD Procurement Handbook. 

Interested bidders can access the full bid documents on the programme’s website and the Public Procurement Information Portal. The deadline for submission is June 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. East African Time.

The nine targeted sites include Bumbe Beach in Busia County; Wichlum and Kokach beaches in Siaya County; Ogal and Asat beaches in Kisumu County; Mainuga, Wakula, and Nyandiwa in Homa Bay County; and Got Kachola Beach in Migori County. 

“This project marks a major milestone in improving the fisheries value chain around Lake Victoria. It is part of our broader commitment to transform aquaculture into a commercially viable and sustainable enterprise for smallholder fish farmers,” said Sammy Macaria, the Programme Coordinator at ABDP.

The construction of the landing sites is expected to benefit thousands of fisherfolk by providing safer, cleaner, and better-equipped environments for landing, handling, and storing fish. 

These facilities will also help meet environmental and social standards, as required by IFAD and Kenya’s regulatory frameworks.

According to the tender documents, the project will involve civil works tailored to each site, including infrastructure for hygiene management, waste disposal, and possibly cold storage. 

The successful contractors will be evaluated based on past performance, technical capacity, and compliance with IFAD’s environmental and social safeguards.

A pre-bid conference has been scheduled as detailed on page 40 of the bid document and interested bidders are encouraged to register their interest by emailing ABDP to receive clarifications and updates on the procurement process.

This infrastructure drive comes at a time when Kenya is intensifying efforts to maximize the economic benefits of its inland water resources. Improved landing sites could lead to better fish quality, higher earnings for fisherfolk, and a more resilient aquaculture economy.

As Kenya continues to invest in the blue economy, such projects highlight the growing recognition of fisheries and aquaculture as vital components of rural development and food security.

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