Turkana: Turkana Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus has urged stakeholders in the fishing industry to make the sector more inclusive by empowering local women and youth through training in aspects of the blue economy ventures. Speaking during a multi-stakeholder meeting organized through the County Department of Trade, Gender, and Youth Affairs, Dr. Erus emphasized the untapped potential of Lake Turkana as a blue economy resource that, if properly harnessed, could provide immediate employment for thousands of women and youths in Turkana and beyond.
According to Kenya News Agency, the meeting brought together representatives from Trademark Africa, the Association of Women in Fisheries and Blue Economy in Kenya (AWFBEK), Kenya Fisheries Service (KFS), Africa Women’s Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET), Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Microwave Consulting, Lattice Aqua Culture, and the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPBA). Dr. Erus stressed the importance of increasing the participation of youth and women in the sector, noting that with the right skills and tools, they could transform their lives while contributing to the county’s economic development.
The Deputy Governor welcomed plans by sector players to train youth and women-led groups in Turkana, highlighting that such initiatives would help build local capacity to fully exploit opportunities within the blue economy while improving household incomes. He reiterated the county’s commitment to supporting inclusive growth by creating an enabling environment through legislative frameworks aligned with national laws on trade, commerce, export promotion, and sustainable resource use.
Kenya Fisheries Service official Willis Onyango, speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, affirmed their commitment to working with the county government to develop the sector. Onyango noted that Turkana and its partners had already invested heavily in reducing post-harvest losses through improved fish smoking techniques and strengthening value chains. These interventions have increased the sector’s capacity to absorb more youth and women.
From May 27 to 29, training sessions are planned for youth, women, and their respective groups on how to harness the potential of the lake and engage meaningfully in the blue economy. This will be conducted through the Women and Youth Empowerment in Fisheries Through Inclusive Market Access (WYEEFIMA) program.
The forum also explored strategies to utilize existing infrastructure such as the ICT and fish processing facility in Loropio for ongoing capacity building. Other discussions focused on exploring regional markets within East Africa, promoting export-oriented trade, and strengthening decision-making through evidence-based research.
Before meeting with the Deputy Governor, the delegation held a consultative session with the County Department of Trade, Gender, Youth Affairs, and Tourism. The training is expected to expose youth and women-led groups aspiring to join the blue sector economy value chains, educate them about export procedures for fish, and identify trade opportunities in the fishing industry.