For a long time now Kenya and Tanzania have been embroiled in a battle due to water space boundaries with each country accusing the other of trespass.
Tanzania fired the first shot by arresting, detaining and later demanding for huge fines from Kenyan fishermen who they accused of trespass and illegal fishing.
Kenyan fishermen on the other hand have stated that they do not know where boundaries in the lake are and therefore just use guesswork to establish them.
“Currently, we are just using guesswork to [establish] where those boundaries could be in the lake,” said Mr Bros Otieno, a Kenyan fisherman from Muhuru beach.
Their plights might soon come to an end with the launch of the Kenya Coast Guard Service that will have it’s headquarters in Liwatoni, Mombasa County.
The service is tasked with the management and enforcement of laws in Kenya’s internal and territorial waters.
The Kenya Coast Guard Service will be responsible for enforcing maritime security and safety, pollution control and sanitation measures as well as prosecution of offenders.
The new Kenya Coast Guard Service will also be responsible for port and coastal security, search and rescue, as well as protection of maritime resources.
Kenyan Fishermen can now be assured of their security. The Fishermen will also no longer have to go through harassment from rogue marine officials including those from the neighboring countries.
The Kenya Coast Guards Service was officially launched today by President Uhuru Kenyatta. Also Present during the launch were deputy President William Ruto, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho.
Uhuru already appointed Brigadier Vincent Loonena as the pioneer Director-General of the Service.
Kenyan fishermen are set to reap even more benefits with the President also expected to launch a campaign aimed at encouraging Kenyans to eat more fish. This is according to Statehouse Spokesperson Kanze Dena
The Head of State, who is in Mombasa will launch the Eat More Fish Campaign after he commissions the newly formed Kenya Coast Guard Service.
“This is an initiative by the State Department of Fisheries that seeks to increase dietary intake of fish in the nation,” said Kanze.
The launch comes at a time when Kenyan fishermen have been complaining of an influx in Chinese fish in the local market as well as from neighbouring Somalia and Tanzania.
Dena also said that the newly formed Coast Guard Service, to be launched by Uhuru at the headquarters in Liwatoni, will help save Sh10 billion lost through illegal fishing.
Do you think that with the launch of the Kenya Coast Guard Service, Marine battles between Kenya and neighboring countries will be a thing of the past?