Counties within the Lake Victoria have been challenged to invest in lake transport to boost tourism and revenue generation.
Cord leader Raila Odinga said county governments in the lake region should invest massively in lake transport for tourist attraction. Raila said the lake is currently being underutilised yet it is a huge source of wealth, job creation and tourist attraction.
“Western tourism circuit has completely been underutilised and governors in Nyanza and Western should explore the available opportunities,” he said.
Raila said the available tourism opportunities in the region should be marketed as a package to make it more attractive.
“We want our counties to make good use of God-given gift by exploring the opportunities available,” he said.
He spoke in Kisumu when he launched Sh16million lake cruise boats on Sunday. He urged Governors Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Obado Okoth (Migori) and Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia) to form a joint lake transport investment bloc.
Others are John Nyagarama (Nyamira), Charles Ongwae (Kisii) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega). He said the governors should start developing a work plan for formation of bloc aimed at transforming the sector. The bloc will also improve on the lake transport system connecting Kisumu-Homabay-Siaya –Bungoma and Kakamega counties.
Raila said the bloc will help the counties to exploit available resources to boost revenue collection and realise development agendas. He said counties should focus on lake cruisers and tour boats to help revive lake transport sector and promote business in the region.
He has also asked hotels to use the lake like those in Cairo, Egypt that ferry clients using boats in River Nile.
“Our counties and have huge potential of tourist attraction that needs to be tapped for wealth creation,” Raila said.
He said the counties will be a destination point for exported and imported goods alongside attracting and boosting investors’ confidence into the counties.