This Time Keep Your Promise Mr President- 5000 Luos are Dying Each Year in Lake Victoria

“Tumetenga bilioni moja ya kununua lunch na bilioni nyingine mbili ya supper. Ni kweli ama si kweli, my friend?”

The last words in the shrill voice struck a note. Then it hit me whom she was mimicking.

Fishermen struggling to eke a living from Lake Victoria. Photo | DalanewsKe

Yesterday President Dr William Samoei Ruto reiterated the promise he made in Homabay that the government of Kenya was going to provide a helicopter to patrol Lake Victoria so as to provide security for the myriad fishermen who lose lives daily from a variety of factors.

First of all let me thank the energetic new minister for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Sultan Hassan Joho who initiated the topic. He asked President William Ruto to allow him to procure a rescue chopper.

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Speaking on Thursday, August 29 during the Thanksgiving ceremony of Treasury CS John Mbadi in Homa Bay County, Joho said he has been informed about people losing their lives in Lake Victoria.

CPA Dr William Oduol Denge smiling expansively at the homecoming ceremony of Energy CS James Opiyo Wandayi.

The Mining CS noted that a rescue helicopter will help in cases of emergency in the lake.

“I have been told that people are dying here every day in the lake while trying to earn a living. Mr President, I am organizing the ministry’s work, but when you give the command, everyone will follow.

“I know that on Saturday you will be visiting the search and rescue and communication project in Kisumu, Honorable President, and I want you, while you are there, to give me the order, and I will pass it on to my people, that in this area of Lake Victoria, we urgently need to procure a rescue helicopter to save people in the lake,” said Joho.

Of course that was his docket and we are excited that he is approaching his work with the seriousness it deserves. Don’t ask me why or what the Lake Victoria Economic Bloc governors have been discussing in their expensive retreats in Mombasa and Naivasha. Certainly they never applied critical thinking to the fate of our fishermen.

Those who have the dossier know that ownership of Migingo Island is still contested. They also know that a neighbouring country has declared more than half of Hama island its designated territory.

Kenyan fishermen have been hounded all the way from Ringiti, Rhemba to Mfangano and Mihuru bay, but since Luo Nyanza has long made the opposition its enclave, the government turned a deaf ear to the plight of our fishermen.

Now we are in government, or so the saying goes. Let’s not be duped.

While in Siaya president Ruto said: “We are going to deploy helicopters in Lake Victoria to help in emergency rescues. We lose up to 5,000 fishermen annually because of poor emergency response. The helicopters will be part of a campaign to save lives of those who depend on the lake for their livelihoods.”

Mr. President, please keep your word. The CS asked for one helicopter, you answered in the plural. Let it not be the billions the nursery school girl knows about.

Allow me now to address two very important issues.

Number One is Raila’s candidature for the African Union Commission Chairmanship. I’m not a mathematician but the figures in the public domain now show that Kenya’s candidate needs 18 more nations to provide support for a win, while his opponent only needs 4!

Someone has been asking can you name the 30 francophone countries that have offered their support to Raila’s opponent and thinks that is a very shrewd question. It’s not.

The Muslim League of African nations are not supporting Raila and they have that many number of nations in their caucus.

I don’t know exactly what am saying here but the Luo have a saying – “chiem chuth, mbele pek.”

Hassan Joho addresses the public in Siaya on Friday 30 August, 2024. He has always approached his assignments with zeal and innovation. Photo | Hassan Joho X account

Number Two. Am one of the few privileged Kenyans who have electricity in their rural homes. Maybe you are just waking up from a good night of sleep and reading this, but some of us are night owls. We work throughout the night and we can guarantee you that the whole country experienced an electricity blackout virtually throughout the night.

My question is – can’t we get another Starlink equivalent service provider in the power sector to shake up lethargic Kenya Power and Lighting Company to its senses?

And while you ponder that, let me pass my sincere regards to whoever did the sitting arrangement at the Wandayi Homecoming ceremony. I could notice Wuod Nyamrembo William Oduol smiling frequently behind his boss, Senior Counsel James Aggrey Bob Orengo. And whenever these two are happy, Siaya is happy.

There’s also another Luo saying – “Rach to nitie.”

Have a lovely day, gallant sons and pretty daughters of Siaya County.