Fishermen on Monday lamented the lack of fish in the swelling Lake Turkana.
They say the rising water levels that began last October have hindered their activities and left their livelihoods in a shambles.
The downpours pounding parts of Ethiopia were blamed for the surge in water levels. Baringo, Bogoria and Nakuru are the other Rift Valley lakes that have experienced flooding.
The Turkana fishermen say the situation has prompted fish to move to deeper areas that they cannot access using their gear.
Samuel Loperito, a resident of Kalokol, said they have nothing to sell as it takes too long to catch fish. It takes more than a month to fill a lorry with fish. Previously, they would take three to five days to fill a lorry. They would then transport their catches to the Democratic Republic of Congo for sale.
Dealers from the DRC are the main buyers of Turkana fish, though some are transported to Busia, Kisumu, Kitale and Nairobi. He said they depend on handouts for survival.
“In October last year, the water level in the lake surged to unprecedented levels submerging beaches, homes, hotels and government offices. We thought the water level would go back to normal but it has not happened. People have are still displaced.
“As we still struggle with the effects of the pandemic, it’s hard times for fishermen as they cannot catch enough fish to support their livelihoods. We don’t have quality fishing gear to enable us to reach where fish have migrated,” Loperito said.
He appealed to the Fisheries department and other relevant authorities to provide the required fishing gear to them.
Joseph Etabo, another fisherman, said they fear for their lives as they cannot get into the swollen lake.
“We don’t have quality boats and other fishing gear. We only afford to use raft boats and wooden boats; that’s why we cannot risk getting to the deeper side of the lake to catch fish,” he said.
He said some fishmongers have quit the business and eke a living out of menial jobs. Etabo said the raging water last year destroyed their fresh fish storage facilities with refrigerators, dry fish stores, beach management unit offices, boats and nets.
Last October, the water flooded the environs, destroyed property and displaced hundreds of people living along its shores.
The water surged from 500 metres to 800m, submerging beaches, hotels, homes and government offices.
Residents, including fishermen and traders, have lamented the devastating effects.
The situation also exposed people to crocodiles and hippos, leading to human-wildlife conflict. There are also fears of waterborne disease outbreaks.
