Kisumu Governor wants Kenya to ban fish importation

Christine Ayuma shows a carton of frozen fish imported from China in Kisumu and distributed by East African Sea Food Ltd. [Photo: Denish Ochieng/Standard]

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma wants a total ban on fish imports.

In a statement, Mr Ranguma said the imports were hurting the economies of counties that rely on the commodity.

"We hope not only to achieve a national government ban on importation of fish into the country but also initiate governance reforms in regulatory bodies," he said.

The county chief accused the national government of contributing to the disintegration of the fishing sector that supports about 80,000 people directly in Kisumu alone.

He said illegal dealers were taking advantage of weak laws and policies to infiltrate the local market.

"The national government's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development is mandated and financed from Kenyan taxes to facilitate development and management of the fisheries sub-sector," said Ranguma.

He added that instead of fulfilling the mandate, the national government was recklessly allowing importation of suspect fish.

"The Government does not provide subsidies to the ordinary fishermen but is shockingly giving processing firms subsidies to fish in the form of a five-year tax holiday," Ranguma said.

The governor added that Kenya was still making a great fortune from the fish industry despite a reduction in fish, with the country earning Sh5 billion per year from exports.

"The apparent scarcity of fish in the local market is an artificial distortion created by unscrupulous middlemen in the sub-sector," he said.

The governor noted there was no reason at all to warrant importation of fish.

"The act is only increasing levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality in the economies of counties like Kisumu that have traditionally depended on fisheries for livelihood," he said.

On Monday 4, The Standard published an exclusive report showing how a Chinese company was importing frozen Tilapia.

The report initiated a debate, with Nyanza leaders condemning the act.