Interior PS Raymond Omollo during a meeting with officials from different BMUs ans traders in Siaya County

Principal Secretary for Internal Security Raymond Omollo has pledged to strengthen security on Lake Victoria and address challenges facing fishermen, including inadequate patrol boats, shortages of security officers and disputes involving Ugandan authorities.

Omollo said the government would increase the capacity of the Kenya Coast Guard Service to improve surveillance and protect fishermen operating on the lake.

He spoke in Bondo South Sakwa Ward, Siaya County, during a meeting with leaders from various Beach Management Units (BMUs) and traders from Bondo and Rarieda sub-counties.

The meeting was attended by Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda and Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo.

Omollo acknowledged that the number of security officers deployed to protect fishermen was inadequate, alongside shortages of patrol boats and other essential equipment.

He promised to engage the Kenya Coast Guard Service leadership to visit the area, hear fishermen's concerns and identify measures to improve security.

“When I return to Nairobi, I will ask the leadership of the Kenya Coast Guard Service to come here and engage with you. We will then look for adequate funding and equipment to ensure security on our lake is improved,” he said.

The PS also addressed complaints about harassment and confrontations involving Ugandan security officers, saying the government was pursuing diplomatic channels through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the matter.

He said the government would follow up on the concerns to prevent fishermen from Siaya and neighbouring counties from experiencing unnecessary difficulties while fishing on the lake.

Omollo called for cooperation among fishermen from Siaya, Kisumu and Homa Bay counties following complaints over the use of illegal fishing gear.

He said fishermen across the counties needed to observe fishing regulations to protect the lake's resources and ensure the industry's sustainability.

He commended fishermen from Rarieda for what he described as their positive example in observing fishing practices, urging others to follow suit.

The PS said cooperation among fishing communities was necessary to grow the economy around Lake Victoria.

Omollo addresses SACCO concerns

The PS also pledged to work with leaders of fishermen's savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) to improve governance and accountability.

Omollo urged SACCO officials to treat their leadership positions as a responsibility and ensure members' contributions were managed transparently.

He said the government would support capacity-building initiatives to equip SACCO leaders with governance and management skills.

“Your savings are not money to be played with. When a fisherman needs money to expand his business, he should not face unnecessary obstacles or be forced to wait for one or two months to access it,” he said.

He added that SACCOs needed efficient systems to enable members to access their savings and credit facilities when required to support their businesses.

Government invests in Lake Victoria's Blue Economy

Omollo said the government was investing in the Blue Economy to unlock the economic potential of the Lake Victoria Basin, which he said had remained largely untapped.

The investments in maritime infrastructure, water transport, fisheries development and tourism promotion are intended to expand trade, investment and economic activity in the region.

He said the focus was to position Lake Victoria as a driver of regional connectivity, job creation and sustainable livelihoods for communities along its shores.

The PS cited the construction of nine landing sites around Lake Victoria, some of which he said were nearing completion.

He said the government was also providing fishermen with modern fishing gear, training and life-support equipment while strengthening security operations on the lake.

Omollo added that the government was investing in roads to facilitate faster transportation of fish from landing sites to markets.

He said modern markets equipped with cold-storage facilities, water and electricity were being constructed to improve hygiene, preserve fish quality and provide traders with better working conditions.

He said electricity connections were also critical for refrigeration, lighting and other economic activities in lakeside communities.

Omollo said the investments were aimed at strengthening the fisheries value chain, from harvesting and transportation to storage and marketing.

Omollo credits Ruto's economic agenda

The PS attributed the investments to President William Ruto's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), saying the administration was implementing commitments made ahead of the 2022 General Election.

He cited developments in the sugar, tea, dairy and coffee sectors as part of the government's efforts to revive agriculture and improve farmers' livelihoods.

Omollo said sugarcane farmers were now receiving payments within 10 days of delivering their cane, while workers in sugar factories were being paid monthly, unlike previously, when some went for up to seven months without salaries.

He also defended the government's implementation record, saying projects being completed this year were based on plans developed before the 2022 elections.

“The President moved around the country before the election, received submissions from different delegations and consolidated the issues raised by communities. All those concerns were captured in the plan,” he said.

On education, Omollo said the President had committed to recruiting 116,000 teachers during his first term. He said 100,000 teachers had so far been recruited, with another 20,000 expected to be employed by the end of the year.

He said the government was implementing commitments made in 2022 rather than introducing new initiatives whenever projects were completed.