This archive report was first published on 6 October 2021.
As the rainy season sets in, commercial fishermen in Bondo Sub County, Kenya, have been warned to observe safety precautions while fishing on Lake Victoria to reduce the rising number of accidents.
According to Yimbo West Ward fishermen group Chairman, Julius Odembo, fishermen should pay attention to weather forecasting to choose the right conditions to go into the lake.
Odembo emphasized the importance of wearing life-saving jackets, saying, 'I am reminding you to always put on life saving jackets to make it easier to be rescued in case you are faced with a crisis in the water because during rainy seasons the tides are high.'
He also called on the fishing community to register as voters during the ongoing mass voter registration to enable them to have a voice in electing good leaders to champion their interests during next year's General election.
One of the main challenges facing fishermen in Lake Victoria, Odembo noted, was harassment by maritime police from neighboring Uganda.
By Calvin Otieno
