Situated on Lake Victoria in Bondo Constituency, this island boasts of rich history dating back to pre-colonial area. The reclusive island on the fresh water lake harbored detention camps used by the colonial administrators in the ‘60s to hold the so called African dissidents. Magenta Island on Lake Victoria is a beacon of peace and tranquillity, Mageta is home to a population of approximately eleven thousand residents, who main economic activities includes fishing, farming and cross border trade with neighbouring Uganda, which is a stone throw away. REREC, through a World Bank sponsored project dubbed Kenya Electricity Modernization Project (KEMP), is in the process of connecting Mageta to electricity. Th e Island currently has six (6) primary schools, four (4) market centers, 10 landing beaches each having a fishing banda, one health center, one secondary school, a police post and over fifty (50) churches, which are among the targeted beneficiaries of the project besides the households. Once complete, the project is expected to boost trade, with residents hoping to expand their fishing activities having investing in modern storage facilities having longer working hours and improved security conditions. Currently, most activities shut down as soon as the sun goes down, curtailing movement and trade in the otherwise active shores.
It’s strategic positioning not withstanding and once electrification is complete Mageta is expected to attract both local and international tourists, trade and industrial activities, with a net effect of employment opportunities in youth enterprises.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!