Written by Lisa Murimi
A storm is brewing in Mombasa’s Old Town after fisherfolk accused the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) of destroying critical fishing grounds by illegally dumping dredged sand, silt, clay, gravel, and debris — a move they say has wiped out fish stocks and crippled livelihoods.
Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has ordered a fact-finding mission into the claims, warning of punitive action if a contractor is found to have violated government orders to dispose of the material 17 kilometres offshore.
“If the contractor is found culpable, necessary action will be taken,” Joho said.
The directive came after a tense meeting that brought together Beach Management Unit (BMU) leaders, County Assembly Speaker Aharub Khatri, MCAs, and county executives.
BMU chairperson Brian Mwakudza Maojo said the dredging had left many fishermen struggling to survive.
Khatri urged any fisherman with video proof to present it directly to Joho, while County Assembly Blue Economy Committee Chair Patrick Mbelle called for both direct and indirect compensation, referencing past losses suffered by Marina fisherfolk and those affected by the Standard Gauge Railway project.
Additional grievances included delayed delivery of five boats under the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Socio-Economic Development Project (KEMFSED), encroachment of landing sites by private developers, and inactivity at the Liwatoni Fisheries Complex.
Joho tasked BMU chairpersons with inspecting the contested Mavuno ya Bahari eco-restaurant site and reporting back.
He also pledged to boost fish production through aquaculture projects for rabbitfish, tilapia, and prawns, and confirmed negotiations for KEMFSED II were in progress.
The meeting followed protests by Old Town BMUs demanding transparency in the Sh2 billion KEMFSED allocation for Mombasa County.
