Senators have called on the government to act swiftly to address escalating security threats on Kenyan waters, particularly in Lake Victoria, where local fishers continue to face harassment from foreign security officers.
Senate Agriculture Committee chair Wafula Wakoli said fishermen operating on the lake are frequently detained, and their boats and fishing gear confiscated under false accusations of crossing into foreign territories. Speaking during a fact-finding mission at Mulukoba Beach Management Unit (BMU) in Port Victoria, Busia County, Wakoli lamented that the harassment has crippled the local fishing industry, paving the way for cheap fish imports from China.
“Kenya has enough fish for both local consumption and export,” Wakoli said. “What we need is to empower our farmers by ensuring a secure and favorable environment for their operations. We have no valid reason to continue importing fish from China.”
Mulukoba BMU chairperson Joachim Omollo noted that most farmers have turned to cage fish farming due to declining fish populations in the lake. He appealed for reduced fish feed prices, access to affordable insurance cover, and government assistance in acquiring boats, which cost around Sh250,000 each.
Omollo further urged the government to establish a fish processing factory within the lake region to reduce costs and create local employment. Currently, fish from the region is transported to Thika for processing, a practice that increases prices and limits local economic benefits.
Fish investor Magan Odero echoed these sentiments, accusing both national and county governments of neglecting the sector. He said the absence of nearby value addition facilities leaves farmers at the mercy of middlemen who reap huge profits.
Busia County Agriculture Executive George Mukok said the county is partnering with cooperatives to support fish farmers and tap into the industry’s full potential.
The call for improved security comes months after Kenya and Uganda signed new bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation.
