The Ohala SAFI Project

The Ohala SAFI Project: An Inclusive, Holistic Economic Model

The Ohala Safi Project is Ohala Africa’s flagship blue economy project designed to catalyze inclusive economic growth while protecting the ecological health of Lake Victoria. The project empowers smallholder aquaculture enterprises across Kenya’s riparian counties by integrating affordable financial services with business support—and by fostering a strong culture of environmental stewardship.

‘Safi,’ the Kiswahili word for ‘clean,’ symbolizes not only the project’s transparent and sustainable approach to development, but also its core mission: to keep Lake Victoria clean and healthy. Combined with “Ohala,” meaning business in the Luo language predominantly spoken in Kenya’s Lake region, “Ohala Safi” essentially means “clean business,” reflecting the project’s commitment to environmentally responsible economic development. The project promotes a shift in mindset among riparian communities, encouraging them to see themselves as guardians of the lake’s fragile ecosystem.

Spearheaded by Ohala Africa, the Ohala Safi Project integrates financial products, technical assistance, and market access into a unified, community-driven platform. At its core is the Lake Victoria Aquaculture (LVA) SACCO, a member-owned cooperative delivering financial services to aquaculture entrepreneurs. The Project design also includes a network of local cooperative service hubs that are members of the LVA SACCO, serving both as business support centers and catalysts for environmental responsibility.

In 2023, Ohala Africa established the Lake Victoria Aquaculture (LVA) Association to lead private sector coordination, policy advocacy, and reform in Kenya’s aquaculture industry. Since then, the Association has become a strong and credible voice—challenging restrictive regulations and spearheading efforts toward progressive legislation.

The Ohala SAFI Project builds on this momentum, offering practical, community-driven business solutions while embedding a strong environmental ethic across all activities. Alongside the financial and business development support to enterprises and groups in the aquaculture value chain, the Ohala Safi Project is establishing the Lake Victoria Environmental (LVE) Challenge Fund. This innovative component will competitively provide financial and entrepreneurial support to youth-led, entrepreneurial ventures and innovations that seek to address current and future environmental challenges facing Lake Victoria.