Residents of Uyawi in Bondo, Siaya county have protested over the deplorable condition of roads leading to fish landing sites in the subcounty.
They said fishermen are counting huge losses as transporters keep off from ferrying fish to the markets because of the pathetic state of the roads.
Besides poor roads, locals also cited the increased cases of insecurity in Lihunda, Uyawi and Ndeda beaches over the lack of street lights.
Uyawi beach management unit chairman Isaiah Ngesa accompanied by Lucky Odhiambo and Francis Omondi demanded that the road be tarmacked.
“The roads leading to the fish landing beaches in Uyawi are crucial in the transportation of our fish produce to the markets,” Odhiambo said.
Boda boda operators in the area also called for the rehabilitation of the impassable roads in Bondo connecting Lake Victoria.
They want the county government and Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda to expedite the repair of the road that links fish landing beaches.
The motorists who barricaded the road in solidarity with the BMU officials vowed to continue with the protest over the bad state of Bondo-Uyawi Beach road.
Ngesa and Omondi said they will hold more protests to ensure the road is repaired.
Further, they called for the construction of a fish Banda on Uyawi, Lihunda and Ndeda beaches, complete with a cold storage facility.
This, Ngesa said will cushion fishermen against production losses and boost fish production for domestic and export as well as boost food and nutritional security.
"We are appealing to him to use the ties with the State to improve the livelihoods of Bondo people and not personal gains,” Omondi said.
They want the MP to push KERRA to speedily repair the road before the onset of expected El-Nino rain.
He expressed concern that the road would be damaged further if not repaired.
Ochanda noted that the responsibility to repair the road that connects the fish landing sites is under the Kenya Rural Roads Authority.
He pointed out that he had reached out to KERRA to repair the dilapidated road.
Ochanda revealed that he had brought the matter to the attention of the authority through the President’s office.
“This is part of what took us to the State House on Wednesday and we were promised it will be fixed," he said.
Ochanda appealed to the BMUs to be patient as they push for its repairs.