President Wiliam Ruto has vowed to raise the predicaments facing fishermen in Lake Victoria during his upcoming meeting with President Yoweri Museveni in Uganda.
The President while speaking to residents in Mfangano, Homa Bay County responded to Governor Gladys Wanga’s plea calling for an end of harassment of fishermen in the hands of coast guards.
He revealed plans to embark on a trip to Uganda on Tuesday to address the fishermen issues with Ugandan President Museveni.
“I want to tell you that on Tuesday I will be visiting Mzee Museveni, and I will agree with him on the way to manage fishing activities in the lake and handling our fishermen,” stated Ruto.
Ugandan Police rubble with Kenyan Coast Guard
In her speech, Governor Wanga had urged the President to step in and address the plight of fishermen whom she noted had been subjected to frequent harassments.
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Additionally, the governor accused Kenyan Coast Guard of failing on their duty of to protect Kenyan fishermen and were instead frustrating them.
“When fishermen are on duty, the Ugandan police guard pounce on them, hold them hostage while stealing from them”, stated Gladys Wanga.
The Governor further raised concerns on Ugandan police even arresting Kenyan Coast Guard Police.
“Wanakamata hata polisi wanaenda na wao pia”,which loosely translates to “they even pick up our police and arrest them”said Wanga.
Ruto Promise to Nyanza Fishermen
In a bid to ensure fishermen have enough equipment for processing, the President has vowed to modernize fishing in Nyanza region by helping fishermen with restoking.
While addressing Mfangano residents, the president affirmed his plans to upscale fishing in the region, adding ,”we will help you with restoking.”
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Fishermen in Nyanza Region are set to benefit from processing plants, with the President assuring that the government has budgeted Ksh9 million for setting up plants in various regions in Nyanza.
Subsequently, Homabay County is set to benefit with two landing sites in the region. Other places in Nyanza include Nyandhiwa, Soori, Nyatike, Asat, Ogal and Wichlum.
“We have set aside Ksh9 million as government to create landing sites in Nyanza, “stated the president.
“We will provide two landing sites here in whakula Homabay, with a budget of 100 million shillings.”
The Head of State is on his day 2 of his four-day tour of Nyanza Region launching the construction of the Mfangano Island Ring Road in Suba North Constituency
