President William Ruto’s ongoing tour of the Nyanza region entered its second day on Friday as the country prepares to celebrate Madaraka Day on June 1st at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay.
The day began with the President attending the closing ceremony of the Blue Economy Conference held at Tom Mboya University (TMU). At the event, he officially commissioned a newly constructed university building, highlighting the government’s focus on education and infrastructure development in the region.
President Ruto underscored the significance of the blue economy as a critical pillar for Kenya’s future economic growth. He emphasized that the government is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of this sector through initiatives such as capacity development, improved infrastructure, and the expansion of aquaculture activities. “Through capacity development, better infrastructure and the scaling up of the aquaculture space, the sector will contribute more to the growth of our economy,” he stated.
In addition, the President highlighted the need to organize stall-holders and enhance infrastructural capacity within the sector. He revealed that the government has initiated a transformative process for the country’s 450 registered Beach Management Units (BMUs), converting them into economic cooperatives. This move is designed to empower these units and integrate them more effectively into the national economy. So far, grants totaling Ksh3.2 billion have been disbursed to support these BMUs as part of the empowerment programs.
Later in the day, President Ruto was scheduled to launch the Kenya School of Law (KSL) campus alongside the TMU Maritime Centre of Excellence. This joint initiative aims to equip professionals with the skills necessary to support Kenya’s growing blue economy, which is fast becoming a key economic frontier for the nation.
The President’s itinerary also includes a visit to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) pier and fish market, followed by an inspection of the new Rangwe Sub-County headquarters and ongoing road infrastructure projects in the region.
Looking ahead, President Ruto will host a meeting with Homa Bay leaders at the State Lodge on Saturday, May 31st, at 4:00 p.m., further strengthening the government’s engagement with local leadership ahead of the Madaraka Day celebrations.
