Six former machete-wielding gang members from Mtongwe, Mombasa county have turned their lives around and are now fishermen.
This follows an intervention by Vidzo Vidzo self-help group, which owns a modern fishing boat at the Mweza Creek in Mtongwe, Likoni subcounty.
Chairman Athman Lugogo said the six were a nuisance and had been earmarked for elimination by a vigilante group.
“However, through a programme within our organisation, we were able to rehabilitate and introduce them to fishing and the blue economy,” he said.
The six are currently in line to get the coxswain training provided by the government through the Kenya Maritime Authority.
“We will appreciate more if KMA, through chairperson Hamisi Mwaguya, helped them get the STCW certification course to help them further their careers,” Lugogo said.
On Saturday Mwaguya donated about 50 life jackets to the self-help group and the local Beach Management Unit. He urged the youth to take advantage of the many opportunities in the blue economy sector.
“I am glad that through Vidzo Vidzo, we have been able to give six youth a chance to lead decent lives and also improve security,” Mwaguya said.
He said some of the challenges fishermen at Mweza Creek face can be solved by the authority. Mwaguya said the authority is ready to help fishermen and Mtongwe residents to harness the youth’s potential.
“We roll out maritime safety and coxswain training and it would be good if more youth from Mtongwe and other areas take advantage of the trainings to equip themselves with knowledge that can help them curve out a career,” Mwaguya said.
So far, some 6,000 people have been following a directive from President William Ruto. “These trainings will open doors for job opportunities for the Coastal youth.
However, the demand is more than supply,” he said. Coast has more than 35,000 boat operators. That means there is still a deficit of more than 29,000 boat operators who need to be trained.
“The demand is there but the course is expensive. It costs Sh97,000 and takes six months. We thank the President for the wise decision to train these people,” Mwaguya said.
Coxswain training helps to ensure safety and good working relationship between fishermen and government authorities.
Mwaguya said the government is in the process of certifying those with prior knowledge of the craft but without documents through the recognition of prior learning programme.
“Those who have prior knowledge of the skills are taken through a three-week course where they are equipped with safety and navigation skills and assessed before they are certified,” he said.
The Mweza Creek BMU chairman Ali Mambo said they have been operating without safety gear for a long time, leading to clashes with KMA and Coast guards.
“We used to run away whenever we saw KMA officers because we operated without life jackets. But now, since chairman has brought us jackets, we will stop running,” he said.
Mambo urged Mwaguya to help them get a store to safely keep their equipment.
“We do not have a store for our nets, these new lifejackets and all that we use to venture into the sea. If we can get a well-wisher who can support that, we will be far ahead,” he said.
Mambo urged the youth to quit crime. “We are glad six of them have already abandoned crime and have joined us in fishing. These are six lives that have been saved because of the group’s efforts,” he said.
I Have faith more will drop the machetes for fishing nets.” Mwaguya promised to get the group an MBU container to store their equipment.
