Sh145 million boats handed to 15 groups

Some of the boats at Mombasa old port last week. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

The Mombasa county government has bought 28 modern fishing boats in a plan to transform the fishing sector.

Acquired at a cost of Sh145 million, the fibre boats will be handed to 15 Beach Management Units.

Speaking during their unveiling at Mombasa Old Port on Friday, Governor Hassan Joho said his administration has a bigger plan to transform the status of fishermen and Mombasa as a fish export centre like Lake Victoria.

Mr Joho said the fishermen will be provided with cold storage facilities, organised into cooperatives and be facilitated in value addition to earn them better prices.

Joho asked those who have grabbed land meant for landing boats to quit or be evicted. “All those who built on public land meant for fish landing must quit now or be evicted. The county government holds such land in trust for the public,” he warned.

The motorised boats were bought from Watamu in Malindi and come with diving facilities for those who venture into deep sea fishing.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir urged the county government to reclaim all grabbed fish landing sites and vowed to raise the matter in Parliament.

“All ports and ferries should be placed under the counties as the law says. We will fight for what is rightly ours. This is what will make our people enjoy the benefits of having a sea,” he said.

Last month, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Daniel Manduku announced that Shimoni port, which is being transformed into a fish port, will be managed by the Kwale county government.

Wavuvi Association of Kenya Chairman Hamid Omar called on the county government to train the fishermen on marine safety so they can venture into deep sea fishing.

Mr Omar also urged the government to ensure trawlers fishing in the Kenyan territorial waters register with the BMUs.