Untapped potential of East Africa's inland waterways

East African Community Principal Secretary Abdi Dubat Fidhow during COP29 in Baku. [Courtesy]

At COP29, a side event hosted by the East African Community (EAC) and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission highlighted the untapped potential of the region's inland waterways.

East African Community Principal Secretary Abdi Dubat Fidhow, laid out a vision for leveraging these natural resources to drive economic integration and environmental sustainability.

The East African region is home to some of the continent’s major water bodies, including Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, Kivu, Albert, Edward, and Turkana, as well as major rivers like the Nile, Congo, and Kagera. Fidhow explained that these waterways, if properly utilized, could revolutionise transport, trade, and socio-economic integration.

Historically, inland waterways such as Lake Victoria have played key role in regional trade and transport.

Kisumu, Mwanza, and Jinja, for example, were vibrant port cities, serving as hubs for trade, fishing, and transportation. However, this legacy has largely diminished due to underinvestment and poor infrastructure.

“Inland waterways are cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and more sustainable compared to road and rail transport,” Fidhow explained. “A single oil tanker on Lake Victoria can replace up to 50 trucks, reducing road maintenance costs, emissions, and safety hazards.”

The benefits extend beyond transport. Investments in shipbuilding, as seen with Kenya Shipyards' construction of MV Uhuru II and refurbishment of MV Uhuru I, demonstrate the potential for creating jobs and supporting local industries like tourism and fishing.

Despite their advantages, East Africa’s inland waterways remain underutilized. Fidhow noted that significant investments are required, not only from governments but also from the private sector.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has already contributed funding to projects such as the Kisumu Port and the Kisumu Oil Jetty, with amounts ranging from $9 million to $15 million. However, these investments are insufficient to fully unlock the potential of inland waterways.

“Much more needs to be done,” Fidhow said. “We must create bankable investment options to attract the private sector. This will not only drive economic growth but also ensure the sustainability of our blue economy.”

Policy fragmentation poses another hurdle. Individual EAC member states have legal frameworks governing inland waterways, but these are not harmonised.

This lack of coordination limits the region’s ability to manage and utilize its shared water resources effectively.

Fidhow called on the EAC to develop a white paper outlining a regional approach to inland waterway transport. This would include harmonised legislation, rules for transportation, and frameworks for search and rescue operations.

“A unified legal framework is essential for creating an enabling environment for investments,” he said.

The potential for inland waterways in East Africa is enormous, but realising it will require coordinated efforts, robust investments, and policy alignment.

As Fidhow noted, this is not just about economic growth but also about creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly future for the region.

With existing funding from development partners and renewed focus at forums like COP29, East Africa has a unique opportunity to transform its inland waterways into economic and environmental assets.

The question from experts at COP29 remains whether the region will seize this opportunity or continue to let it slip through its fingers.