By Reporter
The lake region governors plan to discuss security issues in the lake with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni during the Luo-cultural festival.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga revealed that they will present the matter to President Museveni who will be chief guest during this year’s Luo community extravaganza being held at Miguena village in Siaya County.
Wanga said they have also talked with President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to help them discuss and address the matter during their meeting with President Museveni.
For more than a decade, Kenyan fishermen have complained of harassment by Ugandan security authorities during their fishing expeditions in the lake.
Many Kenyan fishermen have lost their valuable gear, robbed off their catch as some get arrested and detained in foreign countries. Cases of murder linked to such conflicts have also been reported.
Wanga said they have agreed as governors whose counties are affected, they have prioritized the discussion with President Museveni to provide a permanent solution.
She argued that such conflicts have made fishing difficult for Kenyans in the lake.
“It’s high time we addressed the security issue on the lake once and for all with Presidents Museveni and Ruto. Let’s be good neighbours and enjoy the economic value of the lake as East Africa Community members,” Wanga said.
Speaking at Ngeri beach in Kaksingri West Ward, Suba South constituency when they went to see the construction progress of 12 cages for fishermen, Governor Wanga said they have agreed to make security on the lake to be a major agenda.
Kenyan counties that border the lake include Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, Siaya and Busia. Besides Wanga, other governors expected to meet President Museveni are James Orengo (Siaya), Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu), Ochillo Ayacko (Migori) and Paul Otuoma (Busia).
Among the counties, Homa Bay has the largest shoreline with more than 60 percent of the lake water in Kenya.
Wanga said they want to foster peace and unity among the people in the East Africa Community (EAC).
“The issue of security on the lake will be the major agenda when the two presidents attend Piny Luo. We don’t want our people to get attacked anymore when they go to the lake,” she said.
Homa Bay government donated the cages to enable fishermen to continue accessing fish whose population has continued to reduce in the lake due to climate change. The county government spent about sh 30million on the cages.
Accompanied by Fisheries executive member John Agili, area MCA Victor Okoth, Suba South BMU chairman William Onditi, Governor Wanga said they want their people to graduate from being fishermen to fish farmers. Each cage holds 35,000 fingerlings.
“There’s no need for fish farming to remain exclusively in the private sector. We’re hopeful the cages will boost the economic benefit of our people,” Wanga added.
Agili said they are partnering with Victory Farms Company to help the fishermen manage the cages in the lake. The county government will provide fingerlings and fish feeds to the beneficiaries.
Benefited beaches include Ngeri, Nyagwethe, Jiw Dendi, Litare and Kisegi. They donated the cages under the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP).
“At least 180 people are going to benefit directly from the cages. We’re consulting Victory Farms to help us manage the cages and conservation of the ecosystem,” Agili said.
Onditi called for the protection of the cages in the lake to ensure fishermen get value for the money.
“We’ll work with security officers to protect the cages. Those who will be found vandalising the cages will face legal action,” Onditi said.
