Homa Bay fishermen, the elderly and persons living with disability have hailed the Kenya Kwanza maiden Budget, saying it has acknowledged some of their priorities.
Speaking after the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury Njunguna Ndungu read the 2023-24 Budget on Thursday, Homa Bay Beach Management Units chairman Edward Oremo further asked the fisheries department to ensure they improve the boat landing sites in beaches around the lake.
Homa Bay has the longest shoreline of Lake Victoria in Kenya with more than 134 active and operating beaches.
National Treasury allocated Sh11.85 billion in the 2023-24 financial year to the State Department for the Blue Economy and Fisheries.
Oremo wants the money to be used for the capacity building of fishermen as this will make fishermen understand fisheries laws and regulations and training of coax wane which he said would also reduce accidents in the lake.
"Let the government also subsidise the price of fishing gear to discourage the use of illegal ones. A conducive environment will definitely help in improving the economic development of fishermen,” he said.
Many fishermen have consistently complained of harassment and attacks during fishing expeditions in the lake and link the problems to pirates.
The fishermen are attacked and robbed of their fishing gear and are sometimes forced to feed on raw fish as a punishment.
Ugandan and Tanzanian authorities have also been accused of unnecessary arrests and subjecting fishermen to heavy fines over trespass during fishing expeditions.
Oremo appeal to the government to help them address the insecurity challenges which interfere with their economic activities.
"Insecurity has been a matter of concern to fishermen around Lake Victoria. It’s important if the allocated funds are used to create a conducive environment for fishing in the lake,’’ Oremo said.
The National Treasury also allocated Sh38.2 billion to support the elderly, PWDs and vulnerable members of society under the social protection programme.
