Kenya to put more police and patrol boats on Lake Victoria before end of 2026

Kenya plans to deploy more police officers and patrol boats on Lake Victoria before the end of 2026, Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said at a meeting with Beach Management Units (BMUs) and business leaders in Migori County, Citizen Digital and the Star reported on 6 November 2026.

The deployment is meant to address insecurity affecting fishing communities, including around Migingo Island. "We are going to increase the number of officers that are going to support in securing you as well as securing the lake," Omollo said, as quoted by both outlets. "We are also going to bring additional patrol boats."

Omollo said the government is consulting the Border Patrol Unit and the Kenya Coast Guard Service, Citizen Digital reported. He also said traditional wooden boats pose safety risks to security personnel.

He listed projects on the lake shore. Nine modern fish landing sites are being developed around Lake Victoria. The one at Homa Bay is complete, and construction is under way at Usenge in Siaya County. Mbita, Kendu Bay and Sena on Mfangano Island are planned. The sites are to have cold storage rooms, hygienic fish-handling areas and improved trading facilities.

Work is under way at Muhuru Bay Pier in Migori County, and a public ferry in Kisumu is nearing completion.

More than 600 markets are being built across the country, Omollo said. He added that President William Ruto is expected in the coming weeks to launch construction of the roughly 500-kilometre Lake Victoria Ring Road, which will run from Migori to Busia.