Victory Farms to expand cage farming in Lake Victoria

KENYA – Kenya’s Victory Farms is investing KSh 750 million (US$5.7 million) to expand its cage-farming operations in Lake Victoria, targeting Nyatike West and Nyatike South in Migori County. 

The project aims to increase tilapia production from this new concession to about 30,000 tonnes per year by installing additional HDPE floating cages and farming at a commercial scale to supply Kenyan markets.

Victory Farms’ main operation in Homa Bay County currently produces around 18,000 tonnes of tilapia annually through over 100 cages and supplies fish to its own network of more than 80 retail outlets nationwide. 

The Migori expansion will boost production and help address Kenya’s persistent fish supply gap.

Aquaculture contributes about 0.6% to Kenya’s GDP and accounts for roughly 7% of national fish demand, with tilapia accounting for around 5%. 

Overall, the country meets only 31–37% of its fish needs, leaving a 63–69% supply deficit, according to national estimates. 

The Kenya Fisheries Service reported that aquaculture production more than doubled between 2017 and 2024, from 12,635 tonnes to 33,423 tonnes, yet local fish supply remains relatively small.

A track record of impact

Since 2015, Victory Farms has strengthened Kenya’s aquaculture sector through floating cage technology, farmer training, and community programs, creating livelihoods for local households. 

The company has partnered with development agencies and local governments to integrate smallholder farmers into the tilapia value chain, expand market access, and promote sustainable production practices.

The Migori site will continue this approach, combining large-scale cage production with local employment, community engagement, and increased fish availability. 

Expanding domestic production reduces reliance on imports and relieves pressure on wild fisheries, supporting environmental sustainability.

The expansion also supports Kenya’s five-year National Blue Economy Strategy, launched in February 2025 by the ministry, which aims to raise annual fish production to nearly 450,000 tonnes by 2030. 

Cage aquaculture is central to achieving these targets, offering year-round harvests, biosecure operations, and a lower environmental impact than traditional pond systems.

Victory Farms’ Migori project positions the company to meet growing domestic demand while demonstrating how private investment, technical innovation, and community engagement can advance Kenya’s aquaculture sector. 

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