Owalo: Kisumu Maritime Rescue Centre to Enhance Safety on Lake Victoria
Owalo underscored that the centre, which is 17% complete, will serve as the central command facility for coordinating effective search and rescue missions.
Directed by the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), the MRCC will improve maritime safety and reduce the loss of life among fishers and passengers of the lake transport service. Photo/ Citizen Digital.
By Juliet Jerotich
The construction of the Kisumu Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre (MRCC) aims to transform safety interventions for communities that rely on Lake Victoria for fishing and transport. The initiative, according to Eliud Owalo, Deputy Chief of Staff for Delivery and Government Efficiency, will greatly assist in preventing the horrific number of fatalities, ranging from 300 to 400 annually, caused by lake maritime accidents.
Addressing an inspection of the current works, Owalo underscored that the centre, which is 17% complete, will serve as the central command facility for coordinating effective search and rescue missions. By installing sophisticated communication systems, ranging from GSM networks, the centre will receive distress signals effectively and deploy rescue teams promptly, greatly enhancing survival rates in cases of emergencies.
This project is not solely about saving lives in the future,” Owalo explained. “It is also giving jobs to youth in the country and backing the government’s BETA vision while propelling local supply chains today.”.
Directed by the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), the MRCC will improve maritime safety and reduce the loss of life among fishers and passengers of the lake transport service. The mode of operation for the centre is focused on the speed reduction of response to various incidents such as boat collisions, capsizing accidents, and medical emergencies on Lake Victoria.
Owalo also noted that accident response on the lake over several years had not been coordinated. “Previously, rescue operations were up to Beach Management Units, which had insufficient resources and coordination. Accordingly, scores of lives, livelihoods, and valuable properties have unnecessarily been lost,” he explained.
The Kisumu MRCC will also serve neighboring counties such as Busia, Siaya, Homa Bay, and Migori. The widened reach will offer essential emergency response services to thousands of citizens who rely on Lake Victoria as their primary source of sustenance and transport.
Once operational, the rescue center will be an integral component of Kenya’s efforts to enhance safety on its largest inland lake. Providing a fully equipped, central rescue and coordinating facility, the government aims to be in the position to offer speedy accident response, improved preparedness, and fewer accident fatalities for all lake users.
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