Victory Farms has launched the construction of a Kshs 140 million fish processing plant in Suba Central Sub-county, marking a major milestone for the region’s aquaculture sector. The new facility is expected to significantly boost fish exports and improve local livelihoods.
The company announced that the new facility, located at Roo Beach on Lake Victoria, will serve multiple functions. It will not only process fish for export markets but also manufacture animal feeds using fish waste, locally known as ochong’a. The Suba Value Addition Centre will be an integrated plant, ensuring that even by-products of the fish processing operation are put to productive use.
The plant will have a daily processing capacity of 120 metric tons of fish. It will also incorporate crops such as soybeans along with ochong’a to produce high-value livestock feeds. This diversification aims to maximize the economic benefits of the aquaculture industry in the region. However, Victory Farms currently does not produce enough fish from its cages to meet the full processing capacity of the new facility. To address this, the company plans to collaborate with local fishermen and the Homa Bay County government to increase fish supply.
This partnership approach is intended to strengthen the local fish value chain and provide economic opportunities to small-scale fishermen. By pooling resources and production, Victory Farms aims to create a consistent and sustainable supply of fish to the new plant.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, county officials expressed strong support for the investment, describing it as a transformational project for the local economy. The integrated fish processing and feed production facility is expected to reduce waste, create new markets for local fishermen, and promote value addition within the county. In particular, officials highlighted how ochong’a, previously regarded as low-value waste, will now be converted into premium livestock feed, thus increasing incomes for fishermen and reducing environmental waste.
The investment is also poised to create numerous employment opportunities, especially for the youth in the region. Job creation will not only come from the plant’s operations but also from the expanded need for fish supply, feedstock production, transportation, and other support services.
Economic indicators suggest that the presence of Victory Farms has already had a positive impact on the local economy. Prior to the company’s establishment, the Suba Central locality suffered from high poverty rates, with a poverty index exceeding 60 percent. Since then, the situation has improved, with increased employment and business opportunities tied to the growth of aquaculture activities.
Victory Farms’ investment aligns with broader county development goals focused on industrialization, value addition, and economic empowerment. The fish processing plant represents a model for how strategic private sector investments can drive local development, foster partnerships between businesses and governments, and sustainably manage natural resources like Lake Victoria.
As construction progresses, stakeholders are optimistic that the new facility will set a new standard for aquaculture in Kenya, enhancing the global competitiveness of Kenyan fish products while uplifting the communities around Lake Victoria.
