Siaya County, 30th June 2026 -The Sh2 billion Dhogoye bridge in Siaya County is set to transform livelihoods, boost trade and enhance regional connectivity as part of President William Ruto’s Blue Economy agenda.
The construction which is at 58% in Usenge Bondo Sub County, will mark a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to restore a vital transport link between Siaya and Busia counties.
The project, being implemented by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), is steadily taking shape after its initial ground-breaking in 2021 stalled for an extended period.
However, the revival of the project in recent months has seen uninterrupted progress, bringing relief to communities that have for years endured the vagaries of Lake Victoria’s rising waters.
Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo said the bridge will significantly enhance transport connectivity, integrating with the already designed Lake Victoria Ring-road that will run from Busia to Migori County, creating a seamless transport corridor across the lake basin.
“For years, communities along the Bondo–Usenge–Osieko corridor endured frequent disruptions as rising waters of Lake Victoria repeatedly submerged the crossing point, cutting off access to markets, schools, health facilities and other essential services,” stated Dr Omollo.
The PS emphasised that once completed, the bridge will provide an all-weather crossing, easing the movement of people and goods while enhancing regional trade and deepening social and economic integration between communities on both sides of the lake basin.
Beyond transport connectivity, the Dhogoye Bridge is expected to boost Lake Victoria tourism and enhance revenue from fishing, which remains a major income-generating activity in Bondo Sub-County.
“Dhogoye Bridge is part of the bigger plan President Ruto has for the Blue Economy in the Nyanza Region, and its completion will have a direct impact on livelihoods by boosting income through fishing and tourism,” noted Dr Omollo.
The PS further observed that beyond boosting the local economy, the bridge will improve access to fishing hubs and agricultural areas, thereby boosting regional trade and creating employment opportunities for residents.
In April, during an inspection tour of the project, President William Ruto announced that a 4.3-kilometre access road to the bridge will be upgraded to bitumen standards as part of the modernisation of projects adjacent to Dhogoye.
Residents of Bondo-Usenge have welcomed the construction, expressing hope that its completion will mitigate the backflow of water that has in the past submerged hundreds of acres of land and homes, displacing families and destroying livelihoods.
The project has become a symbol of the broad-based government and remains a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which aims to decentralise major government projects to the lowest levels in counties.
The State Department for Internal Security and National Administration has been instrumental in sustaining momentum on the project by fostering collaboration between government agencies, local leaders and communities.
This coordination has helped resolve operational challenges and ensure a conducive environment for the continuous implementation of this long-awaited infrastructure investment.
Upon completion, Dhogoye Bridge will serve as a critical enabler of economic activity, connecting communities, facilitating trade and unlocking the vast potential of the Lake Victoria region, ultimately contributing to the government’s broader economic transformation agenda.
