By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 20 May 2026 - Kenya’s maritime industry is quietly entering a new technological era on the shores of Lake Victoria, where traditional timber fishing boats are gradually giving way to modern fiberglass vessels in a shift officials believe could transform safety, fisheries and the wider blue economy.
For decades, wooden canoes have defined transport and fishing across Africa’s largest lake. Cheap and locally assembled, they have long sustained thousands of fishermen and traders. But they have also become symbols of recurring tragedy — vulnerable to rotting, leakage and capsizing during storms that frequently sweep across the lake.
Now, Kenya Shipyards Limited is attempting to change that narrative through the introduction of fibre-reinforced plastic boats, marking one of the country’s most ambitious attempts to modernize small-scale marine transport.
The state-owned shipbuilder has already rolled out the first batch of modern vessels in Kisumu as part of a broader partnership with county governments aimed at upgrading fisheries infrastructure and improving water safety.
Kenya Shipyards Limited Managing Director Mohammed Farah described the transition as a strategic shift from traditional craftsmanship to industrial marine engineering.
“This is not just about changing boats,” Mr Farah said. “It is about changing the entire maritime ecosystem through technology, safety and sustainability. Kenya must begin building vessels that meet modern global standards while supporting local livelihoods.”
The fibreglass vessels are fitted with flotation systems, life jackets, navigation lighting, cooler boxes and engines ranging between 25 and 40 horsepower. Officials say the boats are lighter, stronger and significantly cheaper to maintain compared to timber alternatives.
Yesterday, during a media induction tour of the shipyard, Edward Omol, Kenya Shipyards’ Business Development Manager, said the new technology was designed specifically to respond to the realities faced by fishing communities on Lake Victoria.
“Traditional wooden boats deteriorate quickly because of constant exposure to water,” Mr Omol said. “Fiberglass technology offers durability, fuel efficiency and improved stability, which means fishermen can operate more safely and economically.”
He explained that the boats could remain operational for more than 15 years with minimal maintenance, reducing long-term operational costs for fishermen. The project also reflects Kenya’s growing focus on the blue economy, a sector President William Ruto’s administration views as a key source of jobs, trade and industrial growth.
Lake Victoria supports one of East Africa’s largest inland fishing economies, employing thousands directly and indirectly through fish processing, transport and trade. Yet poor infrastructure and ageing vessels have long undermined productivity and safety.
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According to Anyang' Nyong'o, modernizing the lake’s transport system is essential if the region is to unlock its economic potential. “We lose too many lives because of unsafe boats,” Prof Nyong’o said. “Modern vessels will not only improve safety but also strengthen fishing and transport businesses across the lake region.”
Beyond safety, the transition carries environmental implications. Traditional boatbuilding depends heavily on hardwood timber, contributing to pressure on forests and rising construction costs as quality wood becomes increasingly scarce.
Fiberglass production, while industrial in nature, reduces reliance on logging and aligns Kenya more closely with international trends in marine manufacturing. Analysts say the move also signals the emergence of a domestic maritime manufacturing industry that Kenya has historically lacked.
For years, most sophisticated marine vessels operating in East Africa have been imported or assembled abroad. But Kenya Shipyards, established to revive local shipbuilding capacity, is increasingly positioning itself as a regional industrial player after constructing the MV Uhuru II oil tanker and expanding into modern marine fabrication.
The adoption of fiberglass technology may appear modest beside large commercial shipbuilding projects, but industry observers say its impact could prove far-reaching.
Modern boats improve fish preservation, reduce fuel consumption and minimize post-harvest losses, all of which directly affect incomes in fishing communities already struggling with declining catches and rising operating costs.
For many along Lake Victoria’s shoreline, the shift represents more than technological change. It is the gradual replacement of a centuries-old maritime culture with a modern industrial future — one in which engineering, safety standards and manufacturing innovation increasingly shape the region’s economic survival.
And as the first fiberglass vessels begin navigating the waters of Lake Victoria, Kenya is betting that the future of its blue economy may no longer be built from timber, but from technology Lake Victoria in the Nyanza region continues to record frequent boat accidents, especially in Homa Bay, Siaya, Kisumu and Migori counties where fishing and water transport are widespread.
According to the Kenya Maritime Authority, the lake witnessed 420 boat accidents between 2015 and 2025, including 146 fatal incidents that claimed more than 250 lives. Officials attribute the accidents to overloading, strong winds, lack of life jackets, ageing wooden boats and unlicensed operators.
The rising fatalities have accelerated the adoption of GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) boats, which are considered safer, more durable and environmentally sustainable than traditional timber vessels. Authorities believe the modern boats will improve safety, strengthen rescue operations and modernise fishing and water transport across the Nyanza region.