•In nearly all the beaches, beach management units ensure that illegal activities are eliminated.
•As fishermen return to the landing beaches, samples of fish are measured to ensure that the fishermen do not catch undersized fish.
Image: GILBERT KOECH
Thomas Okello, a fisherman, wakes up at 5 am before heading to the turbulent and hippo infested waters of Lake Naivasha.
“My day starts at 5 am to 10 am. In between, we are in the lake to check if the nets we cast the previous day has some fish,” Okello says.
The father of six says previously fish was in plenty.
However, the stock started diminishing when illegal fishermen took over the lake.
“I used to get up to Sh5,000 from fishing. This has since diminished,” he says.
Apart from the use of undersized nets, the illegal fishermen would go to the lake at night before making away with fish.
Okello’s nets have in the recent past been stolen at night only for him to go back home a dejected man the following day.
A net cost up to Sh50,000.
The outbreak of Covid-19 also dealt the fish stock a major blow after everyone started getting involved in fishing.
Statistics from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute shows the catch has been increasing.
In 2018, there were 180 boats, which landed 2,233,898 metric tonnes of fish earning Sh173,258,415.
The average earning per boat and month was Sh80,212 with an average kilogram of fish being 1034kgs.
In 2019, 184 boats landed 3,423,730 metric tonnes of fish earning Sh421, 341,151.
The average earning was 190,824 while the average kilograms of fish per boat per month was 1,550kgs.
Last year, there were 186 boats landing 2,213,094 metric tonnes of fish earning Sh238,761,460.
The average earning per boat per month was Sh 107,550 with the average kilograms of fish per boat per month being 996kgs.
Okello says sometimes, a clash between illegal fishermen and the legal ones have led to the loss of lives.
In Lake Naivasha, there are five landing beaches.
They are Kamere, Tarambete, Central, Kihoto and Karagita.
Okello’s landing beach is Tarambete.
The fisherman says security has since improved following the deployment of Coast Guards.
“The catch is improving and illegal fishing has been curbed,” Okello says.
Annah Lokwang a boat owner has been operating at the Tarambete beach landing site for 10 years.
“We have undergone through untold suffering in the hands of illegal fishermen. Our fishermen are beaten up and the catch stolen. The rich have also deployed their own boats illegally,” she says.
On a good day, Lokwang says she makes up to Sh10,000 from her boat.
She nowadays makes between Sh1,500 and Sh3,000 depending on the availability of the fish.
Lokwang says she pays Sh5,000 for the license every year.
Robert Bwire, a crew at Tarambete says the clash between legal and illegal fishermen has been common.
“The illegal fishermen have crude weapons which they unleash every time there is a clash,” he says.
Lake Naivasha coordinator Michael Ngugi says he missed death by a whisker after illegal fishermen ambushed them as they patrolled the lake.
“We were going to pick Kenya Wildlife Service officers when we were ambushed. We came back but as we were disembarking, we met another group in a car that was protecting the illegal fishermen in the lake. They said they were looking for me before hijacking me,” he says.
Ngugi later managed to escape from his tormentors who left him in Mai Mahiu.
“The illegal fishermen have powerful links. They target Sh50,000 from each of the five boats which equals Sh 250,000 per day,” he says.
Ngugi says security has however improved since the deployment of the Coast Guards.
Godfrey Liwa, a trader transporting fish to Nairobi says the trade has improved.
“I transport between 110 kilograms and 150 kilograms of fish each day to Nairobi. I started this work in 2017,” Liwa who is based in Kamere beach landing site says.
Liwa says illegal fishermen were selling their catch at a throw-away price after stealing the nets belonging to legal fishermen and stealing their catch.
In nearly all the beaches, beach management units ensure that illegal activities are eliminated.
As fishermen return to the landing beaches, samples of fish are measured to ensure that the fishermen do not catch undersized fish.
Fish must measure 18 centimetres and above.
Fishermen also have to disclose where they operated from.
Police records show that four bodies have been recovered due to the clashes.
Some of the bodies had deep cuts.
Tarambete Beach chairman Rajab Omar says most fishermen have in the recent past encountered losses after their nets were stolen.
He says the illegal fishermen kill those who resist.
Omar says the illegal fishermen belong to groups called White ego, Black ego, Wanamusama and Hatungoji Sana.
Image: GILBERT KOECH
Lake Naivasha secretary general Grace Kimani says about 10,000 people depend on Lake Naivasha.
“We have 800 crews and 200 boat owners. We have traders who buy and sell fish, net menders, kiosks, hotels, among others,” she says.
Kimani says there is a clash of roles between the fisheries department, and Coast Guards.
“There is a need for a 10-year management plan for functions to be shared to avoid conflict,” she says.
Kimani says only one beach has been gazetted urging the Nakuru county government to buy land so that riparian land is protected.
Captain Elijah Agak, in charge of Rift Valley and a branch inspector with Kenya Maritime Authority says they recommended the deployment of Coast Guard following a clash between illegal and legal fishermen.
“People are happy now that hooliganism has gown down. KMA is overseeing vital affairs such as safety and security in the water,” he says.
KMA also looks at how boats are constructed to avoid accidents.
It also engages boat owners on safety while in the waters.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
Image: GILBERT KOECH