Fishermen in Homa Bay County want the government to step up measures to protect them from persistent harassment from security officials from neighbouring countries.
The fisherfolk, led by Remba Beach Management Unit (BMU) Chairman, Sumekia Mamra, said the frequent harassment impeded their operations.
Mamra said the dwindling fish population in Lake Victoria was also a threat to their livelihood.
Speaking during a forum with county government leadership in Homa Bay town today, the official said that they faced harassment from Ugandan and Tanzanian authorities who arrest them, confiscate their gears and fine them.
Mamra noted that the latest incident was on Thursday this week when 12 fishermen from Remba Island were arrested and their boats confiscated by the Ugandan authorities.
He termed the arrests a violation of human rights and unwarranted harassment.
Mamra lamented that the Ugandan authorities were demanding that the Kenyan fishermen pay for Ugandan fishing licences in order to operate in Lake Victoria.
“We cannot pay taxes in Kenya and do the same again in Uganda for operating in Lake Victoria as the Ugandan authorities want. Let the government end the constant harassment of fishermen from Ugandan authorities,” Mamra said.
The fishermen are being detained in Hama Island, Uganda where another 27 Kenyan nationals have since March been held after their arrest under similar circumstances in Remba Island in Suba West Sub-county in total disregard of territorial incursion.
The BMU officials pleaded with the government to come up with strategies of ending the conflicts once and for all.
Chairman of Homa Bay County BMU Network Edward Oremo said the harassments were fueled by the conflicting fishing laws in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
He noted that there were some fishing practices which were legal in Kenya but are illegal in Uganda.
“For example, fishing with paraffin lamps is outlawed in Kenya, and instead, we are only allowed to use solar lamps. But if you go to Ugandan waters, the law is vice versa, leading to conflict,” Oremo said.
He told the governments of the three East African countries which share Lake Victoria to harmonise fishing laws.
“Making common laws for fishing will significantly eradicate the cross-border conflicts affecting us. I appeal to our government to spearhead that process,” Oremo said.
The fishermen also cited the dwindling fish in Lake Victoria as a recipe for conflicts.
Last week, a 35-year-old fisherman was killed near Mikuyu Beach in Suba South Sub-county during a fight between two groups of fishermen over fishing grounds.
Chairman of Suba South Constituency BMU William Onditi said there was need for interventions to restore fish populations in Lake Victoria.
“Let us avoid illegal fishing nets which catch immature fish. This interferes with multiplication of fish,” Onditi said.
Homa Bay Deputy Governor nominee Danish Onyango said the county government was committed to improving fisheries in the county.
He said the county government had invested heavily in the blue economy sector infrastructure to improve livelihoods.
“We have constructed modern fish bandas and sanitation facilities in fish landing sites along beaches like Achich, Alero, Kaugege, Ragwe, Wayando, and Ongoro, among others,” Onyango said.
The County Executive Committee Member for Blue Economy Sarah Malit said they were committed to eradicating illegal fishing gear.
“Our efforts to eradicate illegal fishing gear are aimed at promoting sustainable fishing practices in Lake Victoria,” Malit said.
by Davis Langat
