Kirinyaga is steadily emerging as one of Kenya’s leading aquaculture hubs, with more than 1,600 commercial fish farmers embracing the trade as a profitable enterprise.
This growth comes amid sustained investments in production, value addition, and market access.
The sector has expanded beyond table fish, with many farmers now venturing into ornamental fish production, hatchery businesses and fish value addition, creating new income streams while meeting the growing demand for fish across the country.
Governor Anne Waiguru said her administration has deliberately transformed aquaculture from a subsistence activity into a commercially driven value chain, with the county currently producing 71.3 tonnes of fish annually and targeting 400 tonnes in the coming years.
“We have purchased an extruder to enable farmers to produce their own fish feeds, significantly reducing production costs and improving profitability,” she said.
The county government has also supported farmers through the provision of fish pond liners, quality fingerlings, fish feeds and extension services, while investing in infrastructure aimed at strengthening the entire aquaculture value chain.
Kirinyaga agriculture, livestock, veterinary and fisheries executive John Gachara said the establishment of the Kiaga Fish Aggregation Centre has improved access to markets, while the fish feed extruder is helping farmers lower production costs.
“The Aquaculture Business Development Programme has been a critical partner in our efforts to commercialise fish farming. Our strategy has been to help farmers grow progressively from small-scale production into commercial enterprises,” he said.
The county now boasts nine hatcheries supplying quality fingerlings to farmers within and outside Kirinyaga, reducing dependence on external suppliers and supporting the rapid expansion of fish farming.
Youth have also found opportunities within the value chain through businesses such as black soldier fly production for fish feeds, Smart Fish Kiosks and fish eateries, broadening employment opportunities beyond fish production.
The progress has attracted the attention of development partners, with a delegation from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank and the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) visiting the county to assess the impact of the eight-year initiative supporting smallholder fish farmers.
The team toured aquaculture projects across the county to evaluate investments in production, extension services, value addition and market development before describing Kirinyaga as one of the country’s leading examples of commercial aquaculture.
ABDP national programme coordinator Sammy Macharia said the programme has worked with farmers in 15 counties by addressing production challenges while strengthening fish marketing systems.
“Fish farming in Kirinyaga has grown from a livelihood activity into a profitable business, making the county a regional leader in aquaculture development,” he said.
Macharia said the programme supports farmers through the provision of pond liners to minimise water losses, predator and bird nets to reduce pre-harvest losses and continuous advisory and extension services to improve productivity.
He also commended the county government for providing technical personnel to support farmers, noting the strong partnership had accelerated the commercialisation of the sector.
According to the programme, fish production has increased significantly since implementation began in 2018, with many farmers who previously harvested less than 10 kilogrammes annually now producing between 200 and 300 kilogrammes each year.
Head of monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management at IFAD-ABDP Michael Waweru said the county has become a national learning centre for aquaculture innovation due to the rapid transformation witnessed over the years.
“When we first came to Kirinyaga, many farmers had very small ponds measuring about 20 to 25 square metres. Today, more than 1,200 farmers have expanded them to nearly 300 square metres, leading to higher production and better incomes,” he said.
Waweru said Kirinyaga’s success has inspired other counties to adopt innovations such as ornamental fish farming, hatchery development and fingerling production, with the National Aquaculture Research and Development Centre in Sagana playing a key role in supporting the sector.
For many farmers, the investments are already translating into better livelihoods.
Margaret Wairimu, who joined commercial fish farming in 2022 after receiving support through the programme, said access to pond liners and fish feeds enabled her to establish a sustainable enterprise.
“I started fish farming in 2022 with the help of IFAD. They provided pond liners and fish feeds, and I have seen good results. The project has helped me and I intend to continue farming fish,” she said.
John Karoki from Kiandai village has expanded his enterprise to five fish ponds and now relies on staggered stocking to guarantee a continuous supply to the market.
“This year I have harvested fish worth more than Sh100,000. I restock my ponds every one to one-and-a-half months so that I always have fish ready for the market,” he said.
