Tanzanian fishermen stranded in Mombasa head to court over unpaid wages

Aggrieved Tanzanian and Kenyan fishermen who have been stranded at the Port of Mombasa for the last two months are contemplating court's intervention to help them get justice.

Speaking to The Standard at the Mission to Seafarers Centre, Mombasa yesterday, the group that comprises twenty Tanzanians and one Kenyan stated that their only hope now lies with the courts.

The fishermen worked aboard two fishing vessels, FV Faraja that was impounded by Kenyan authorities last month and is currently being detained at the Liwatoni Fisheries Complex and another one FV Hamu which is still in Kismayu,Somalia.

'' We have waited for far too long and each time the ship owners come to see us they give what turns out to be fake promises.We have suffered enough times away from home.Our families too are bearing the brunt of all this,'' Mr Khamisi Mohamed Nampatipati, a crew member aboard FV Faraja said.

A distraught Mission to Seafarers Centre chaplain,Rev Moses Muli who has been providing daily assistance to the group of fishermen berrated the ship owners and said that they were not genuine.

''We sat down with them and they agreed to clear all outstanding salaries to the fishermen plus local expenses incurred. What annoys us most is that each time we try to reach them over telephone, they fail to pick up.This is deliberate,'' Rev Muli said.

Mr Shaban Mohamed Lubike who works as a chef aboard FV Faraja said that while they eat to their fill , their concerns was their famillies back home.

''We are still in employment by law and have not been paid for the last six months. Our dependants back home in Tanzania are calling us crying out for help to offset daily requirements and this is not good at all,'' Lubike said.

The seafarers who also include a Kenyan said that they fear that the owners of the vessel ,FV Faraja might fail to secure their passage home.

''We have been well received and are now under daily care of the Mission to Seafarers whole local chaplain Rev Moses Muli and Ms Betty Makena , the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) , Ms Betty Makena ensure that we get daily hot meals . But for how long shall this be the case. We need to be paid our dues and sent back home,'' Mr Shaban Mohamed Lubike, the vessels chef said.

Makena said that they have been in touch with one of the vessel's co-owners who promised to fly to Mombasa next week for negotiations over the return of the seafarers back to Tanzania.

Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) had effected the arrest with effect from Jul 25th , 2019.

Blue Aqua Marine are listed as the owners of the vessel and owe the crew a total of US $47000.

''We acted fast to help minimise the sufferings of the ship's crew. There is urgent need for the ship owners to act fast and ensure that all pedinng salaries and dues are paid and repatriation back home effected ,'' Rev Muli said.

Seafarers Union of Kenya (SUK) General Secretary, Mr Steve Owaki regretted the incident involving crew of FV Faraja and FV Hamu respectively.

''This is one among the many cases that we continue to handle .It is high time that ship owners accord crew all the necessary support in their work,'' Owaki said.

The vessel crew further accused the the ship owner had reneged on earlier contract where their monthly salaries would be paid on time.

'' We boarded the vessel in Omani and were fishing off Somali waters near Kismayu for prawns. In April ,we sailed to Mombasa and offloaded our fish catch but a dispute arose over our salaries and after consultations, we agreed to return back to sea ,'' Muhsin Muhiddin Hai, the ships Bosun said.

Haji said that they have been irked and refused to get back to work after the ship owner insisted that he could only pay them off if they agreed to go back to see and fish and then sell the cargo.

'' At one time, the ship owners wanted to pay us from direct proceeds of his fish sales.This was never the case when he hired us for the jobs aboard his fishing vessel,'' Haji said.

Haji added that they have unilaterarily resolved not to return back to work and instead want to be paid their dues and head back home.

Mr Mohamed Abdulaziz, the only Kenyan working as a deckhand on the fishing vessel said that they were tired of being taken round by the ship owner over their delayed wages.