Obado asks Museveni to intervene on Migingo row

Governor Okoth Obado has appealed to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to listen to the cries of Kenyan fishermen on Migingo Island.

Mr Obado was reacting to a petition by fishermen from Migingo and Muhuru Bay over security officers from the neighbouring country who were allegedly harassing them and interfering with their business in the Island.

"If Museveni is our friend as he claims, it is important for him to listen to the cries of our people and solve this stalemate, I appeal to our people to refrain from violent reaction as we are handling this matter with the national government," said Mr Obado.

He added, "Kenya is a peace-loving nation and we believe round-table negotiations will bear fruit."

The Migingo Island tussle between Kenya and Uganda hit the media in the recent past with both states claiming ownership.

He also instructed county security officials to arrest those found trading on sisal leaves without legal documents.

"This is a serious exploitation. Our farmers need to benefit from their toil," he said.

More than 100,000 farmers have complained over exploitation by sisal leaves traders from Nakuru, Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

They claimed traders were buying the leaves at a meagre Sh5 for every 27 leaves, which they argued was demoralising.