By M, KNA
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has assured local fishermen that the Government will guarantee their security on Lake Victoria and other international waters the country shares with her neighbours.
The CS said that fishermen in Lake Victoria have many times been arrested and harassed by the security forces from the neighbouring countries but assured Kenyans that measures were in place to protect their interest as they go about their economic activities.
“We are going to enhance coast guards on our waters and at the same time we are having talks with our neighbours to ensure that security on the international water boundaries is stepped up for the benefit of the citizens of these countries,” he said.
The CS lightly pointed that fish have no demarcated boundaries on the lake and could breed in a different country and later migrate to another country and this is what has brought some conflict when the communities patrol the waters to source for this vital commodity.
He said patrols on the waters would be enhanced using modern speed boats and enhancing cooperation with the neigbouring countries like Uganda and Ethiopia in order to improve security in the country’s international waters.
Addressing the 42nd Jumwa La Usalama session in Kisumu on Thursday, Murkomen said for some time Kenyan fishermen have been arrested, detained and sometimes jailed in the neighbouring countries due to lack of proper security on Kenyan waters.
It is worth noting that in February and May this year more than 20 fishermen were killed by suspected Ethiopia militia on Lake Turkana at Todonyang border in Turkana County where some of the bodies were yet to be recovered.
Murkomen highlighted the importance of roping in the various beach management units that he noted held key ideas on how to enhance security at the border and strategic entry points including establishing more border posts and strengthening diplomatic ties with our neighbours.
The CS at the same warned emerging gangs and goons who have been terrorizing Kenyans in urban centres and even villages that their days are numbered.
“Kenya is a country governed by law and we cannot allow illegal groups to terrorize wananchi and we are putting those who are hiring these gangs on notice,” Murkomen stated.
Marauding gangs have been reported to harass citizens in the rural villages of Western Kenya and urban set ups like Kisumu and Nairobi leaving the residents operating in fear.
Recently in Nairobi, marauding gangs of young people forced those going about their normal businesses in the central business to scamper for their safety as they threatened them with crude weapons and human waste.
The CS however regretted the high prevalence of gender violence in the region noting that the vice was highest in Kisumu County at 36 per cent against the national prevalence of 32 per cent and called on security agencies to swing into action.
Family strife and other vices prevalent in the area such as disco matanga, alcohol and drugs have been blamed for the rise in gender violence in the area and on this, Murkomen called for sensitisation of the publics on amicable ways of solving family disputes.
He also lamented that land disputes in the region were being fueled by corruption which is prevalent in land registries and added that they were in talks with his counterpart in the Lands Ministry in order to streamline the issue.
Murkomen also launched an Identification Card (ID) mobile service with a state-of-the-art machine which would ensure that the residents of the area receive their Identity Cards (IDs) in a record seven days
This digital service will eliminate paper work in the processing of identity cards while ensuring efficiency and transparency in delivering this service to Kenyans.
In the past, Kenyans have been made to wait for long for this vital document after applying for it as the process was cumbersome.
The CS reminded Kenyans that application for identity cards was now free and there is no verification fees on application for a birth certificate or death certificate.
Murkomen spent Thursday in a meeting with security personnel of Kisumu County to iron out security issues in the area.
Murkomen however noted that Kisumu County ranks third in illicit brew peddling including alcohol and substance abuse due to the presence of sugar mills in the region where molasses from the sugar factories is being used to make illicit brew and declared a pending operation targeting perpetrators and peddlers of illicit substances in the region.