The fishing community in Kendu Bay Beach, Homa Bay County is a delighted lot after an organization embarked on a street lighting programme to revive the deteriorating beach.
Fishermen and fish mongers in the area have been doing their business in darkness raising fears of insecurity after dusk.
Lack of street lights in the area also contributed to cases of hippopotamus attacks.
And in an effort to address the risks, Kwame Otiende Foundation has undertaken an initiative of solar streetlights installation along the beach.
The Vice Chairman of Kendu Bay Beach Management Unit (BMU) Odero Lore said the lights will address insecurity which had become rampant.
He regretted that some people took advantage of the darkness to commit crime in the area.“The darkness has encouraged incidents of insecurity since some people take advantage of it to perpetrate crime in the evenings,” Odero said.
On his part, George Kimuri, a member of Kendu Bay BMU said the lights will reduce incidents of hippos’ invasion in the area.
“Hippos interfere with our activities at dusk and dawn in this area. The lights will deter them,” Kimuri said.
A trader, Alice Koliech said the lights will help them to trade for longer hours in the evening.
“We have been closing our businesses prematurely in the evening due to risks posed by darkness. The lighting will enable us to trade for longer hours after dusk,” Koliech said.
The coordinator of Kwame Otiende Foundation in Karachuonyo Constituency Wycliffe Kauma said their objective is to improve the livelihoods of the area residents.
“Fishing and business are the main sources of livelihood for the people of this region. We are focusing on this project to empower residents,” Kauma said.
By Davis Langat
