Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the most farmed fish globally, with a significant contribution improving local livelihoods, especially in developing countries. Nile tilapia was first cultured in Kenya in 1924 and is the most cultured fish species. Annually, O. niloticus accounts for 62% (∼15,000 tonnes) of total aquaculture production. Although O. niloticus is the most preferred cultured fish, its culture faces challenges, for example, early maturation due to prolific breeding behaviour leading to stunted growth that limits its culture and profitability among smallholder farmers. With the surging demand for locally farmed fish, innovative technologies have emerged to boost aquaculture production. Donor and public research‐funded projects, for instance, the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project, are validating various aquaculture technologies, innovations and management practices (TIMPs) to achieve ‘triple wins’ of increased fish production, improved resilience and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)‐funded Aquaculture Business Development Programme aims at commercialising aquaculture to improve local livelihoods. In this study, we adopt a scoping review methodology to review and synthesise published literature on tilapia culture in Kenya to explore current and emerging tilapia production technologies and document their socio‐economic impacts on farmers’ livelihoods. These emerging innovative technologies range from culture systems, for example, biofloc, periphyton, fingerpond technology, integrated aquaculture, breeding and genetics (selective breeding), fish health and biosecurity measures, to post‐harvest loss reduction, value addition and marketing. The study findings reveal that the technologies have great potential to increase tilapia production and profitability and positively impact the local livelihoods of smallholder fish farmers through employment creation, economic growth and better nutrition.

Rapid population and economic growth, increased health benefits of aquatic food, and changes in lifestyles and preferences as a result of rapid urbanization and globalization are all contributing to the rapid growth of aquaculture production in Kenya. Despite significant investment efforts from the national and devolved governments as well as donors and international organizations, smallholder aquaculture production is yet to result in a significant increase in incomes and improved food and nutrition security. We conducted a scoping review to investigate the roles of multilateral development organizations, international financial institutions, and public and private investments in Kenya’s aquaculture subsector. We draw on lessons learned from previous projects implemented at the national, county, and farm levels to make recommendations for sustainable aquaculture intensification in Kenya. To unlock Kenya’s aquaculture potential and improve its food and nutrition status, deliberate efforts must be made to create a conducive environment for public and private investment in the industry. First, there is a need to coordinate and clearly articulate the roles and responsibilities among devolved and national governments, donors, and financial institutions through public-private partnerships to ensure optimal allocation of financial, human, and infrastructure resources. Second, more collaborative research should be devoted to the design and construction of climate smart culture systems, developing new species to guarantee supply of high-quality products; developing and scaling low-cost and highly nutritious fish feeds based on novel ingredients; and enhancing resilient livelihoods through innovative aquaculture practices and market linkages to create employment opportunities for youth and women. Finally, the national and devolved governments should create an enabling policy environment through tax incentives and regulatory reforms to combat climate change, protect nature and biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and mainstream food and nutrition initiatives into the design and implementation of future aquaculture projects.

The dwindling capture fisheries has triggered an increase in Kenya's annual fish demand deficit, currently estimated at 553,000 MT. With the adoption of sustainable policies, aquaculture can bridge and surpass this deficit. Kenya's fish farming environment is however characterized by its highly fragmented production farms, which limit the dynamism and technical change needed to commercialize aquaculture. The global trend in the commercialization of food production is through the consolidation of farmlands. For example, most farms in the United States of America were also once small, but because of the policy of land consolidation, the farmlands average 1,000 acres. Over the past decade, much of Sub-Saharan African nations are experiencing a rise of 5–100 hectares except in Kenya, where the laws have exacerbated the situation. Amid declining agricultural productivity, farm-level efficiency and food security problems, land fragmentation is emerging as a key policy question in Kenya and is the single largest bottleneck, to aquaculture growth in Busia. A paradigm shift in the aquaculture development policy will enable aggregated production of fish under a fragmented land tenure. This study discusses the need to remodel the current fragmented and uncoordinated cluster-based smallholder aquaculture development strategy by adopting a hybrid aquapark concept. In this concept, the aggregated smallholder aquaparks are established and managed through specialized management service provision units and linked to adjacent smallholder aquaculture production clusters with a community-based coordination and support framework. The study further gives the application and socioeconomic experiences of the pilot aquapark concept of aquaculture development in Busia County. The aquapark model coupled with the deliberate establishment of aquaculture-enabling infrastructure has enhanced the efficiency, profitability, and productivity of aquaculture production. The realization of smallholder community-owned large-scale fish farms through aquaparks offers a window for dynamism and technical change necessary for the commercialization of aquaculture under a fragmented land tenure system.

African catfish is one of the aquaculture species in Kenya and a potential source of cheap protein for human nutrition. However, the major hindrance in the culture of catfish is seed production. The high-mortality rate of fry and fingerlings experienced by hatchery operators has limited the access and availability of catfish seeds. This had resulted in low-annual average production of farmed catfish. To address these challenges, different methods have been employed to enhance its seed production. One of such methods is induced spawning followed by larval rearing by the use of live feed like Artemia, thereafter, fry rearing with dry formulated feed, sorting by size, and stocking in nursery ponds. This chapter, therefore, will review the different mechanisms that had been adopted to enhance the seed production of catfish thus boosting its production in Kenya.

Bagrus docmak is a species of the Bagrid catfishes that is indigenous to Lake Victoria, and is an important source of livelihood to communities around the lake. Fish samples were caught using gillnets of mesh sizes 50 mm and 10 mm. The length and weight of individual fish was measured in the field, while stomachs were preserved in 5% formalin and taken to the laboratory for gut content analysis. The overall sex ratio (male: female) was 1.0:1.26 which did not deviate significantly from 1:1 (p > 0.05). The length of fish ranged from 12.0-55.0 cm TL and weighed between 20.0 g and 1650.0 g, with mean length and weight of 32.7 cm TL and 351.2 g, respectively. The relative condition factor was 0.97, 1.01 and 1.00 for male, female and combined sexes, respectively. The condition factor was not significantly different in relation to sex of fish and size classes (p > .05). The slope b of the length-weight relationship was 2.94, 2.94 and 2.90 for females, males and combined sexes, respectively. Analysis of stomach fullness revealed that most of the stomachs were ¼ full (44.6%), while (29.7%) were empty. Non-empty guts had variety of food items with Caridina, insects and fish remains each contributing the highest (21%) proportions. Most stomachs in each size class were ¼ full, and empty stomachs notably reduced with increased fish size. Juveniles of less than 30 cm TL fed exclusively on Caridina; otherwise with increased size the fish ingested insects, and different fish species such as Barbus, bivalve, Haps, crabs and detritus in variable quantities. This study provides information on the length weight relationship and condition factor of B. docmak useful for its management. Knowledge of its food requirements in the wild can be used to inform feed formulation for its successful culture.