By Habil Onyango
The capture fisheries in Lake Victoria have been under pressure from overfishing and climate change variability.
Aquaculture is increasingly seen as the sector that will bridge the country’s fish supply gap.
Kenyan fish consumption has been rising steadily, driven by population growth, urbanisation, and increasing awareness of fish as an affordable protein source.
However, despite the country’s significant blue economy potential, annual fish consumption remains below 5kg per capita, highlighting the gap between current production levels and opportunities.
Driven by demand and the catch deficit in Lake Victoria, Joe Rheman and his partner Steve Moran of Victory Farms (VFs) saw an opportunity to invest in cage fish farming at Roo Beach, Suba South Sub-County, Homa Bay, in 2016.
Currently, VFs has begun expanding its operations in Homa Bay aggressively at a cost of Ksh2.2 billion at Doho, Homa Hills, within Homa Bay, on a 100-acre site, which aims for a capacity of 50,000 tons of tilapia annually.
The site will become the second facility after the 50-acre plot at Roo, where they have built a 30,000-ton hatchery, employing over 1,000 locals.
Rheman stated that they are expanding further, which is expected to boost access to affordable tilapia for millions of Kenyans in partnership with the local community.
“We are excited to be launching a second farm to continue growing in Kenya. Kenya can produce its own fish; we always believe that, but by improving it, we can grow and supply everything at home,” he said.
This new project is undertaken by the company in partnership with the Homa Hills Community Development Organisation (HHDO), directly employing 400 people and indirectly supporting 3,000 others.
“There is a need for us to invest in our people; it is the most critical investment we can make in our community,” he said.
“We are not here for one fish pond and a few jobs; we are here to build the Doho site into the largest tilapia hatchery in the world,” said Rheman.
Beyond production volumes, the expansion aims to create employment opportunities across farming, logistics, and retail, strengthening supply chains nationwide.
Investment in technology
Rheman emphasised that for Kenya’s business growth, investing in technology is essential.
He noted that Kenya is the original home of tilapia, and Homa Bay is the home of Victory Farms, where most tilapia in the Kenyan market is currently farmed.
“For us to continue to grow and remain leaders, we must invest in technology, which is how we create long-term success,” he said.
“If Kenya is to be the world leader in tilapia farming, which I believe it will, we need to invest in technology, research, and development to do everything locally,” he added.
HEAP programme benefits farmers
The Homa Bay Extensive Aquaponics Programme (HEAP) is an innovative partnership between Victory Farms and local landowners, emerging as one of the region’s most promising rural economic empowerment models.
Through HEAP, smallholder farmers earn steady monthly royalties from fish-egg production on their underutilised land.
Victory Farms installs ponds on farmers’ land, stocks them with fish, manages the ponds, and harvests eggs weekly, paying farmers in return.
Landowners earn Sh1,200 per kilogram of harvested tilapia eggs, creating a reliable monthly income while supporting the company’s aquaculture supply chain.
“The HEAP model allows landowners to participate in our success. The goal is to bring families a reliable monthly income that can help them meet essential needs such as school fees and household expenses,” said Rheman.
Beyond income generation, the HEAP system boosts local food production through an integrated aquaponics approach.
Solar-powered pumps installed on the ponds regularly flush nutrient-rich water into nearby farms, where it is used to irrigate vegetables and other crops, creating a natural fertiliser system driven by fish waste.
“Landowners earn a steady monthly royalty based on the eggs harvested and are paid Ksh1,200 per kilogram of tilapia eggs,” revealed Rheman, “with some earning up to Sh30,000 per harvest cycle.”
The CEO mentioned that the ponds generate income for 10–11 months of the year, offering stability compared to traditional rain-fed agriculture.
“Since its launch, the HEAP project has empowered dozens of local pond partners with long-term financial stability to support household expenses like school fees. We are currently engaging 130 members of the Roo community in the programme,” he said.
Rheman assured that the company will replicate the programme and implement it for the people of Doho.
He also thanked Governor Gladys Wanga, who attended the event, saying that through her leadership, they have managed to build confidence in the community and government.
He also appreciated the trust she has placed in VFs to be an honourable employer that fosters business growth and development, adding that “confidence is the currency of investment.”
Wanga expressed gratitude to the Victory Group, noting that their efforts have combined modern practices and technology to help address Kenya’s growing protein gap, driven by declining wild fish stocks, rapid population growth, and persistent undernutrition.
She stated that through their fully integrated farming, processing, and distribution model, the company is scaling the production of affordable, high-quality tilapia for consumers.
Wanga urged residents and the entire community of Homa Bay to embrace the project, as it will create thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly.
“We are excited with VFs on their expansion of the farm to Homa Hills in Karachuonyo to come and set up a huge investment here,” she said.
“As the Governor of Homa Bay, I am very happy that in another five years, we will create nearly 400 jobs directly and an additional 3,000 indirectly for our people, as promised by the farm management,” she noted.
She, however, requested the management to consider locals when it comes to employment opportunities.
Ceazer Asiyo, the farm’s Chief Development Officer, thanked Wanga for transforming Homa Bay, known as the County of Endless Potential, into a genuinely enabling environment for serious investments.
Asiyo said that with her support, she has opened doors for serious investors to come to the county not only to make money but also to improve the lives of the locals.
“To the Homa Hills community, we are entering a long-term partnership grounded in trust, ambitions, and shared responsibility,” he said.
“We are committed to creating meaningful jobs, delivering impactful community projects, upholding the highest environmental and social standards, and honouring the history and aspirations of this land,” he added.
“Victory Farms is here as a long-term neighbour and partner, determined to turn promises into tangible progress for our county.”
Charles Ayieko of the Homa Hills Community Development Organisation (HHDO) said the region has been left behind in terms of development for a long time, urging the community to support and embrace the initiative for their benefit.
He noted that they agreed the farm will provide clean drinking water, create jobs, offer scholarships to local learners, build new roads, and support local farmers – tangible benefits that will touch every household as a way of giving back.
“For some time in the past, we have seen false starts with several investors, where agreements are made without involving the community, losing many opportunities,” he said.
“The experience has taught us one lesson: development must begin with our people and not end with them,” he added.
“The programme is not only an investment in land but an investment in the future of locals and the entire country,” he stated.
“The farm has promised to protect the environment by ensuring that our land and water remain safe for future generations,” he said.
“This land is cherished – our heritage – and we must all work to protect it,” he added.
The project will have an oversight committee to monitor progress, ensuring accountability and fairness, with representatives from the community, Victory Farms, the county government, and the HHDO.
He urged youths and women to seize the opportunity to learn, acquire necessary skills, and work to become part of VFs in the future.
