Women Fisherfolk in Turkana County Receive Motorised Boats and Equipment to Break Economic Dependency
Lowarengak, 9 February 2026
Six women’s fishing groups in Lowarengak have received motorised boats with engines, nets, and safety equipment through an EU-funded initiative, directly benefiting 300 members and indirectly supporting 1,800 fisherfolk. The donation aims to reduce women’s reliance on male counterparts and transform them from passive traders to independent producers in Kenya’s second-largest county, where over half of fishing group members are women.
SPREAD Project Delivers Comprehensive Equipment Package
The donation ceremony, which took place on 8 February 2026, delivered a comprehensive package of fishing equipment to six women’s groups: Ngisen Akuj, Kapedor, Mule, Tonyoutu, Nakwabang’ang, and Kiponit [1]. The equipment included six wooden boats fitted with Mercury 15HP engines, 30 fishing nets, and safety jackets, alongside dry racks for fish processing [1]. The initiative was implemented through the European Union-funded SPREAD Project, with Turkana Pastoralist Development Organisation (TUPADO) and Danish Church Aid working in partnership with Turkana County Government [1].
Economic Independence Through Value Addition
Sammy Ekal, TUPADO’s Executive Director, explained that the support aims to ‘break cycles of exploitation while providing economic independence, and elevating the women status from passive traders to active, independent producers in the fishing sector’ [1]. The motorised boats, dry racks, fishing nets and safety jackets are designed to reduce women’s reliance on male counterparts, allow for better value addition, and boost household income [1]. This transformation addresses a critical economic dependency that has historically limited women’s earning potential in the fishing sector.
Scale and Impact on Local Communities
The fishing equipment will directly benefit 300 members across the six groups, with indirect benefits reaching 1,800 fisherfolk in the broader community [1]. In Lowarengak and neighbouring Todonyang, over 50 per cent of fishing group members are women, highlighting the significant female participation in the sector [1]. This initiative builds upon previous success in Kanamukuny, Todonyang, where six fishing groups previously received similar gear donations [1]. The timing is particularly significant for communities near Kakuma refugee camp, where enhanced economic opportunities can benefit both host and refugee populations [GPT].
Future Commercialisation and Youth Employment Plans
Robert Kibunja, Acting Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, urged fishing groups to consider utilising the proposed County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) to market their fish products [1]. Kibunja emphasised that ‘commercialising fishing along the lake, could also create new opportunities for youth employment and enhance the local economy. And scaling up fishing operations can make it more lucrative’ [1]. Kataboi Daniel, Chair of Lowarengak Beach Management Unit, reinforced this vision, stating that ‘young men are drivers of economic development; engaging them can definitely drive sustainability and community development in fishing sector’ [1]. TUPADO plans to continue working towards empowering women in their own fishing groups to further enhance economic empowerment and livelihood sustainability [1].