This archive report was first published on 30 August 2021.
On June 25, six Kenyan fishermen were arrested by Tanzanian security officers while on a fishing expedition in Lake Victoria. The fishermen were taken to the Sota Beach police post in North Mara District of Tanzania, where their fishing gear and boats were seized.
According to Maulid Joel, chairman of the Kibro Beach Management Unit, a disagreement between the Kenyan fishermen and their Tanzanian counterparts escalated into a fight, leading to the arrest.
The Tanzanian fishermen demanded Sh40,000 for each of the Kenyan fishermen to be released, an amount that the Kenyan authorities could not raise. An outcry from the fishermen's relatives led to a fundraiser in Migori County, which raised Sh120,000 towards securing the fishermen's release.
Philip Makabongo, Migori County Orange Democratic Movement branch chairman, said they are considering an out-of-court settlement if the complainants are willing to soften their stance.
Meru Mwangi, Migori County Commissioner, said there were efforts to have the fishermen freed, and that he had taken up the issue with the security committee.
Tom Odege, Nyatike MP, said the territorial boundaries in the lake are not clearly spelt out, and that fishing expeditions are often done in the night, making it difficult to ascertain the exact borderlines.
Hevron Mahira, Muhuru MCA, has petitioned the East African Legislative Assembly for an East African Community joint operational licence, which he believes will ease working relations between the three countries and bring an end to the constant harassment of Kenyan fishermen.
