Four Members of Homa bay County Assembly (MCAs) have given the owner of Victory Farm a two day ultimatum to remove fish cages from Lake Victoria in Suba South constituency.
The MCAs claimed that the investor had installed the fish cages illegally in the lake without proper guidelines.
Led by Peter Oriema Asoyo, MCA for West Kaksingri Ward they said that the county government of Homa-Bay signed agreement with private investor without public participation and involvement of all stakeholders.
Asoyo argued that the private investor signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with county government only to operate at Rowo beach, but the firm has illegally extended the operations to other beaches without the knowledge of the members of community.
The MCAs are now accusing the county government of Homa-Bay for secretly signing the MoU with the private firm which has resulted into numerous demonstrations, causing death of one fisherman who drowned into the lake during the protest.
They reiterated that they are ready to support the investment only if it is done to meet the interests of the public.
Contacted for comments, Homa Bay county executive committee member in charge of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries development, Aguko Juma who spoke after meeting the four MCAs assured them that he will write to the firm to remove the three controversial cages to give room for holding public participation by the area residents.
Aguko admitted that the cages were put up at the Lake without involving the local community, saying they are planning a stakeholder meeting involving the area leaders and the official from the firm to find a lasting solution over the fish cages.
By Davis Langat/Anne Onyango
