The Kenya Coast Guard Service is committed to ensuring the safety of fishermen in Lake Victoria and has challenged stakeholders to volunteer timely information to help them in achieve this mandate.
According to Lieutenant Commander Mwandugo Mwinyi, the commander of the Inland waterbody squadron, close working relations between the service and the public has to be enhanced if positive results are to be realized.
Speaking at Usenge beach in Bondo constituency during the closure of a two-day safety sensitization exercise, the commander said the service recently recorded a success story, when it intercepted foreigners who were harassing fishermen near Sumba Island, within Kenyans waters.
“We got prompt information from the public just when the foreigners had begun harassing our people and we were able to rush there, overpowered and arrested them,” said Mwinyi.
The commander said that the initial two years of the establishment of the Coast Guard were tough, as the people did not know their actual mandate, hence there was a lot of suspicion.
“Nobody would volunteer information then and sometimes, we would get reports about harassment in the lake two to three days after the incident,” he said.
The sensitization exercise, he said, was not only about safety, but was also about fostering understanding among the stakeholders.
The exercise featured interactive sports activities between Coast Guard officers and the fishing community.
Mwinyi said that over 500 fishermen around Lake Victoria have already undergone training, adding that they intend to reach more than half of the region’s fishing population in the coming months.
Siaya County Beach Management Unit (BMU) Coordinator Willis Ochieng’ lauded the service for the initiative, describing it as a timely and impactful move for the local fishing community.
He said that the sensitization has been a game-changer, adding that it will help to bridge the gap between Kenya Coast Guard Service and the community.
Usenge BMU Chairman Dedan Ajima and Welfare Secretary Rodgers Onyango hailed the programme, sponsored by the International Organisation on Migration, saying that it has helped foster close working relations between the public and the coast guards.
They urged the Coast Guard to continue enhancing security measures on Lake Victoria to ensure a safe and productive environment for their livelihoods.
by Philip Onyango
