Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) has begun a mass-registration of boats operating in Lake Naivasha. – By Gerald Gekara.
Speaking in Nakuru during a joint meeting with County officials led by Governor Lee Kinyanjui. the KMA Director General Mutegi Njue said the move is a kickstart to restoring security among locals in the region.
“A harmonized system of boat identification will make it easier for both local and foreign tourists to recognize safe and genuine tour guides operating on the lake. It will also be easier for authorities to track down boats used by illegal fishermen and monitor those involved in legitimate activities,” DG Njue said.
In the new security policy, KMA says plans are underway to set up a surveillance base at Lake Naivasha. The base will supplement the Kenya Coast Guard Service’s (KCGS) patrol base to address rising cases of insecurity.
On his part, Governor Lee Kinyanjui said his administration will provide land to KMA to build the patrol base.
“Illegal fishing has become rampant in the lake. The number of unlicensed fishermen along the shorelines, and, unfortunately, on breeding grounds, has increased over the years since the early 2000s and sometimes they net more fish than their licensed counterparts.” Governor Lee said.
He added that the move would see the start of skilled training to fishermen to kill the immature fishing culture and inexperienced boat operators in the region.
