Ruto, Raila decry fishermen harassment in push for Kenya-Uganda border deal

President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga on Friday triggered debate on the longstanding Kenya-Uganda border disputes, insisting it was time to solve the issue once and for all.

Speaking at Tom Mboya University on day two of Ruto’s tour of Nyanza, the two leaders condemned the incessant harassment of local fishermen by Ugandan authorities in Lake Victoria.

In recent years, Kenyan fishermen have been arrested and even suffered violence for allegedly trespassing into Uganda’s waters.

Speaking during the official closing ceremony of the blue economy, Raila demanded that Kenya should deploy security forces in the contested Lake Victoria waters to counter Uganda marine forces stationed there.

“Uganda has brought in marines in the lake to harass our citizens, we should also bring our marines.

 “This (border dispute) is a contentious issue that we need to take up with Uganda so that it is resolved. We dint see any reason why our fishermen should be harassed when they just crossed the border.

“We need to agree with Uganda so that we know where the border is,” Raila said.

Raila recalled how initial aggression by the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin to extend the border to Naivasha fuelled the current stalemate that remains unresolved to date.

“Idi Amin in his madness said the border is in Naivasha, that situation is the cause of our problems,” he said.

Ruto agreed with Raila on the need for the two countries to establish the border between the two nations.

“We will take advice given to us by Raila to ensure we establish the right boundary so that we avoid unnecessary conflicts,” the President said amidst applause from the audience.

Ruto also highlighted some of the steps his administration has taken to ensure that neighbouring countries resolved the boundary issues.

“We have serious security issues as a result of our neighbours, I did send Minister (for Blue Economy Hassan) Joho to engage his counterparts in Uganda and Tanzania. There is currently a conversation that is going on so that we can give uniform licence for all our fishermen to avoid what is going (harassment) on at the moment.”

The leader’s remarks come at a time when the region is experiencing escalating tensions between Kenyan fishermen and their Ugandan counterparts.

The two leaders also warned local fishermen about the constant fights over fishing points, which in some cases have led to the loss of lives.

“There is a lot of insecurity on our waters, between different groups of fishermen. Some of the fights occur when rogue groups fish in these areas (common fish breeding grounds),” Ruto said.

“We are working with the Coast Guard so that we have a sustainable surveillance mechanism of our waters.”

Raila termed the fights between local fishermen over fishing grounds ‘backward’, calling on the residents to embrace one another other.

“This is stupid, we should not allow this. It is shameful that our fishermen are fighting and killing each other over fish,” he said.

Ruto was on his second day visit to Nyanza, where he launched a number of infrastructural projects.

Among those accompanying the President were Cabinet Secretaries John Mbadi (Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Governors Gladys Wanga (Homabay), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), James Orengo (Siaya) and a host of elected MPs and MCAs from the region.