The Lamu county government has started plans to repossess fish landing sites grabbed by individuals in the region.
So far, those in Kiunga and Mokowe have since been repossessed with the process targeting scores of similar sites in the county.
Governor Issa Timamy said they are currently in the process of taking back the Mtangawanda landing site.
Lamu has more than 40 fish landing sites spread across the archipelago, majority of which have been grabbed by private developers overs the years.
Fishing is a major income earner for Lamu county and accounts for more than 50 per cent of its general revenues.
Speaking on Monday, Timamy said the plan was to have all recovered landing sites allocated title deeds to guard against any grabbing efforts in the future.
“We have commenced the crackdown and recovery of all grabbed fish landing sites. We have since done Kiunga in Lamu East and Mokowe in Lamu West, among others. We are currently on the Mtangawanda site. We keep moving until we have all of them back," Timamy said.
The grabbing of the fish landing sites have been among the thorny challenges facing the fishing sector in Lamu county as they play an integral part during offloading and packing of fish.
The fact that all these sites have no title deeds have made it easy for grabbers to have their way over the years.
To add to the crucial utilities, the governor said plans were underway to build a Sh100 million ice plant at the Mokowe fish landing site.
“We also want to put up fish markets, cooling plants, processing plants, boat yards and other amenities needed for the betterment of the fishing sector in those recovered landing sites,” he said.
Fisheries executive Faiz Fankupi sai the lack of modern and advanced fishing gear was also a major hindrance to the expansion and growth of the sector.
He said the county is in process of empowering fishermen in the county by issuing them with modern fishing equipment to enable for excursions on the deep seas.
