Orengo Praises Ruto Administration for Effective Maritime Policies on World Fisheries Day

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Siaya Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo yesterday lauded the national government for cooperating with local authorities to ensure that maritime policies are successfully implemented and beneficial to the people of Kenya.

Photos | Directorate of Public Communication, County Government of Siaya.

Governor Orengo was addressing fisheries stakeholders during celebrations to mark this year’s World Fisheries Day at Lwanda K’Otieno beach in South Uyoma Ward of Siaya County.

Orengo, however, called on the Regional Commissioner (RC) Madam Flora Mworoa to initiate immediate action that will lead to the withdrawal of coast guards currently manning Lake Victoria and their replacement with a new team.

The governor said the current team of coast guards was irreparably corrupt and not only posed a menace to the fishermen but were also saboteurs to fishing expeditions.

Orengo revealed that coast guards were milking fishermen dry by demanding funds from them in order to provide security and harassing anyone who refused to cooperate.

“Our own coast guards are a thorn in the flesh to many fishermen doing expeditions on the lake,” said Orengo adding that, “now that Mworoa has confirmed that cost guards rest in the docket of Interior, the public will only have confidence in her if she acts immediately and removes them.”

Orengo lauded the Ruto administration for engaging Beach Management Units (BMUs) in implementation of fishermen-friendly policies. He singled out the blue economy initiative as set to be an economic game changer for Siaya county.

He challenged the strategic partner running the Lwanda Kotieno Fish Processing plant to work closely with his administration in order to secure resources that will enable them run projects that have impact on the lives of fishermen.

“The facility should have bigger operations than what we see at the moment,” said the governor.

Fisheries Principal Secretary Besty Njagi on her part asked the Regional Commissioner to act swiftly so that peace reigns in Lake Victoria.

“We can’t allow our fishermen to continue being frustrated by coast guards. Let’s have a short term incisive strategy that will see long-term peace reign on our waters,“ said Njagi.

She added that the government is committed to implementing several fish processing plants along the Lake region bloc with another two to be constructed in Siaya.

“The projects will be undertaken through cooperation by the national administration and the County government and will be completed within the next year,” said Njagi adding that the facilities will also be state-of-the-art like Lwanda K’Otieno’s.

“The improved refrigeration will help maintain a long shelf-life and guarantee quality of fish from Siaya and the neighboring counties, “she said.

The new projects to be run directly by fishermen through BMUs will have processing units, cold facilities, and ice making machines. The PS revealed that the government would soon kit out fishermen with appropriate gear and women fish vendors with coolers.

“We are also working closely with County governments to equip our fishermen with boats, fishing gear and women will also get coolers and best sites for running their businesses.”

Speaking at the event the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the President Mr. Eliud Owalo who was also the chief guest said this year’s theme “Collaborative Governance for Blue Economy and Sustainable investment in Fisheries” underscores the government’s committment to transforming livelihoods.

Owalo read a speech from the Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho which in part stated:

“The theme underscores the urgent need for inclusive innovative approaches for management and development of our fisheries subsector in Kenyans blue economy.

In the year 2023, the subsector recorded 65,000 fishermen and 70,000 fish farmers with 149,000 fish ponds.

The subsector’s total fish production in 2023, stood at 161308 MT valued at KES 35.9 billion.

Inland capture fisheries produced 121, 357 MT which is valued at KES 26 billion.

Marine fisheries contributed 39,950 MT generating KES 9.9 billion while Aquaculture production accounted for 31,767 MT valued at KES 10 billion. Collectively the sub-sector gives direct and indirect employment to 1.5 million Kenyans including fishers, traders, processers, suppliers and fishing accessory merchants as well as employees and their dependants contributing 0.6 percent to our national GDP.”

The World Fisheries Day, first celebrated in 1997 in New Delhi, India, is now an annual event in the global calendar. Last year the celebrations were held in Mombasa.

The commemoration in Siaya began by the commissioning of the Lwanda K’Otieno fish landing site and a mini fish processing plant.

Those present were Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo, Siaya Agriculture Executive Silvester K’Okoth, Governance Executive Agunda Ochanda, Tourism Executive Anjeline Oduor, Lands Executive Maurice Orege and Agriculture Chief Officer Elizabeth Adongo among other national and local dignitaries.