Victory Farms breaks ground on second Kenya farm in Homa Bay

KENYA – Victory Farms, a fish-producing farm in Homa Bay, has broken ground on its fourth farm as a group and the second in Kenya, located in Homa Bay County, marking a major expansion expected to produce 30,000 metric tonnes of fish annually and boost access to affordable tilapia for millions of Kenyan consumers.

According to Joseph Rehmann, CEO of Victory Farms, the project aligns with the Government of Kenya’s target of producing 400,000 metric tonnes of farmed fish annually as the country works to strengthen food security and reduce reliance on fish imports. 

With capture fisheries in Lake Victoria under pressure from overfishing and climate variability, aquaculture is increasingly viewed as the sector that will close Kenya’s fish supply gap.

Kenya’s fish consumption has been rising steadily, driven by population growth, urbanisation and growing awareness of fish as an affordable source of protein. However, despite the country’s significant blue economy potential, annual fish consumption remains below 5 kg per capita, underscoring the gap between current production levels and future opportunities.

By investing in large-scale cage farming, hatchery systems and distribution networks, Victory Farms is positioning itself as a central contributor to the country’s aquaculture transformation.

Beyond production volumes, the expansion in Homa Bay is expected to create employment opportunities across farming, logistics and retail, while strengthening supply chains in western Kenya. The company has credited the national and county governments for streamlined permitting processes and support during project development.

At the same time, aquaculture expansion on Lake Victoria continues to attract public scrutiny. In comments on the company’s social media page, one community member raised concerns about the long-term environmental impact of cage farming on Lake Victoria, suggesting the company could consider investing in community boreholes to safeguard access to clean drinking water.

While such concerns remain part of a broader debate around sustainable cage aquaculture, they reflect the importance of balancing rapid growth with environmental stewardship and community trust.

Community engagement and youth empowerment initiatives

Beyond aquaculture production, Victory Farms has also been involved in community development initiatives in Homa Bay County. In late 2025, the company supported youth-focused sporting events in Suba South aimed at addressing social challenges such as HIV infections, gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies. 

The initiative brought together young people from fishing communities around Lake Victoria, using sport as a platform to promote awareness, mentorship and positive engagement.

The company’s community relations coordinator, David Otieno, said such events also help them nurture and expose the talent of youth in the area.

“The agenda is to reduce idleness in youths and engage them in meaningful activities. They also expose and nurture their talents,” Otieno said.

The programme formed part of the company’s broader corporate social responsibility efforts, which it says are designed to ensure that growth in aquaculture is matched with social investment in the communities where it operates. 

Such initiatives come at a time when Homa Bay County continues to face socio-economic pressures, including youth unemployment and public health challenges, which Victory Farms aims to address.

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