More than 30,000 fishermen suspend fishing due to census

The lobby chairman Edward Oremo said going to work will exclude the fishermen from the count.

Over 30,000 fishermen in the county have said they will ground their boats and stay home to participate in the census.

Through their umbrella lobby, the Homa Bay County Beach Management Network, the fishermen operating in 137 beaches said they will remain home on August 24 and 25.

The lobby chairman Edward Oremo said going to work will exclude the fishermen from the count.

“We have held a meeting and resolved that no fishing will take place on the nights when the census will be carried out,” Mr Oremo said.

Important exercise

“Census is an important exercise. None of our fishermen should be left out of it. Fishermen will stay indoors.”

Oremo further directed all Beach Management Unit (BMU) leaders in the county to ensure that no fishing boat leaves the lake shore from Saturday evening.

Suba South Sub-county Beach Management Unit chairperson William Onditi said he had extended the order to boat owners.

“We have agreed that no fisherman will go into the lake. Anyone who breaches the directive will face disciplinary action,” Mr Onditi said.

The census is being carried out by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.