Written by Cajetan Okondo 2012-03-22 18:29:00 Read 742 Times

Marenga beach of Port Victoria in Busia County.Photo/File.

Fishermen and fish traders at Port Victoria are finding it rough from local politicians who infringe the Beach Management Units claiming to close Mulukoba beach and have only Marenga as the fish collecting beach in the area in Budalangi.

Secretary of the Beach Unit at Mulukoba Mr. Bernard Warinda, stated that there is too much discrimination and tribalism from the local leaders who fear that other communities who fish and trade at Mulukoba Beach benefit more than local fishermen at Marenga Beach.

“The problem begun early 2010 when by that time the management at Marenga beach was totally devastating, harassing traders and even highly taxed forcing some fishermen and traders to resign from Marenga beach and join Mulukoba beach,” said Mr. Warinda.

He adds, “But the beach official Mr. Oniango Wanga and koni ohanga incited the local youth to chase away other communities and even holding meetings at night planning to disrupt the activities at Mulukoba beach.”

Mr. Warinda stated that some money exchangers led by Fred Muganda have gone further blocking fishermen from transferring fish to Mulukoba Beach and even bribing some traders to go back to Marenga which seemed to be impossible to all traders.

“It forced the chair in charge of the beach Mrs. Justine Noel to conduct the election to know if the fishermen and traders want the Mulukoba Beach to be transferred to Marenga Beach but when the results came out the majority voted to remain at Mulukoba Beach,” said Secretary.

Mrs. Noel lady in charge of Mulukoba Beach asked all fishermen and traders form both beaches to have peace so that activities along the lake are not disrupted.

Fishery Officer Mr. Victor Gisore also stated that the ministry is planning to have dialogue with leaders Managers from both sections to get really metamorphosis behind the saga.

“But now they have put measures in place to ensure that the security is beefed up in both beaches so that fishing activities are not politicized by certain community,” said Gisore. 

Switch to Our Mobile Site