KPA steps up plans for expansion of Kisumu Port
Shipping & Logistics
By
Maarufu Mohamed
| Apr 02, 2026
The Kenya Port Authority (KPA) has taken steps to strengthen the transport corridor on Lake Victoria and increase cargo capacity.
This move has placed the Kisumu port, a major inland gateway on Lake Victoria, at the centre of significant expansion projects.
The port is undergoing infrastructure upgrades to improve efficiency and restore its status as a key hub for trade between Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. In recent years, cargo volumes at the port have risen.
Patrick Makau, the port manager of cargo services, said that the main project is to extend the port’s quay from 262 metres to 392 metres, allowing more ships to dock simultaneously.
The yard space is also expanding from 3,000 square metres to a larger area, and an 80-by-16-metre warehouse is being constructed to increase storage capacity.
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Makau stated, “We are still making drainage improvements and repairs all over the yard to stop flooding and make it easier to work.”
He added that the Kisumu Port expansion programme is a long-term investment aimed at making the Lake Victoria region a competitive centre for trade and transportation.
Makau noted, “This ongoing work with counties, regional ports, and local communities will be key to keeping the Port’s growth going.”
Connect to SGR
Additionally, KPA is investing in intermodal links, including building a new road to the port for easier truck access and laying metre-gauge railway lines to facilitate cargo transfer between rail and lake transport.
He mentioned that in the long run, this railway line will connect to the Standard Gauge Railway to integrate Kisumu’s port operations into the national logistics network.
KPA is also developing more passenger infrastructure, such as a new ferry and terminal, to revive passenger services on the lake, which declined over ten years ago.
Makau explained, “The improvements are part of a larger government plan to bring back inland water transport in the Lake Victoria basin.”
He further highlighted that county governments in Homa Bay, Migori, Busia, and Siaya are simultaneously working to enhance smaller ports, including Sio Port, Usenge Pier, and Muhuru Bay, aiming to create a network of interconnected landing sites.
Makau added, “Kisumu Port is actually getting closer to its counterparts in the nearby ports of Bell and Jinja in Uganda and Mwanza in Tanzania.
The goal is to balance the flow of imports and exports while cutting down on logistical delays along the lake corridor.”
The port’s modernisation is already positively impacting the local economy.
For instance, Mama Otis, a fish supplier at Dunga Beach, mentioned that the new passenger ferries are expected to open up new markets in Uganda and Tanzania.
Fredrick Jakabondo, a fish trader, observed that the revived railway network could help small traders access markets in Nairobi and Mombasa and potentially export refrigerated containers. Real estate investors are also reacting positively.
John Otieno, a local businessman owning several rental properties near the port, said that demand for housing has started to rise as construction workers, traders, and port staff move into the area.
He added that the return of passenger services and increased trade will drive further growth.
Local leaders remain hopeful, believing that these developments will create more jobs, generate greater business opportunities, and enhance transportation stability.