This archive report was first published on 6 July 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's visit to the Kisumu Port on Saturday marked the second time in three weeks he has toured the facility, which is undergoing a Sh3 billion rehabilitation. The President's inspection comes as preparations for the August launch of several economic projects in Kisumu gain momentum.
According to sources close to the former prime minister, African Union Envoy for Infrastructure and Development Raila Odinga was out of the country attending the African Union Summit in Niamey, Niger, and was not present at the port.
The port rehabilitation is part of a grand Sh14 billion government plan to jump-start the sleeping blue economy in the region. The project includes the oil jetty, the construction of a ship assembly yard, and a refurbished port.
Other projects feeding into the grand government economic package for the lakeside city include the revival of Kicomi, the SGR extension to the city, and the development of an industrial park.
At the port, workers from the Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Railways, Kenya Navy, and the National Youth Service were deployed to help with the ongoing works. The government plans to restore the port facility where big ships that plied Lake Victoria were manufactured.
President Kenyatta and Mr. Odinga want the rehabilitation works, which kicked off in May, fast-tracked to meet the August 15 launch deadline. The President's visit comes a day after Opposition leader Raila Odinga visited the site.
Regional presidents including Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania's Magufuli, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Felix Tshisekedi of DRC are expected to attend the launch.
President Kenyatta arrived in Kisumu at 2 pm on Saturday, having made a two-day-private visit to President John Magufuli at his Geita rural home in Tanzania.
He was received at Kisumu International Airport by Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, Defense CS Rachel Omamo, Education's George Magoha, the port managers, and several local leaders led by Deputy Governor Mathews Owili.
During his visit, the President made a guided tour at the Kenya Marine School and the dry dock where the giant MV Uhuru is docked. Sources said the President started the engine of MV Uhuru, which is one of East Africa's biggest cargo vessels that broke down in 2006.
He also sailed in one of the repaired tugboats and got deep into the lake as he sampled the vessel. The President gave strict instructions to the multisectoral team to ensure that the work is completed ahead of the launch next month.
After concluding the tour at the port, the President convened a meeting comprising of various officials involved in the rehabilitation works in one of the rooms at the port to get a brief.
