Kalokol, 14th  November, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation has engaged the County Government of Turkana, together with the Beach Management Units (BMUs) in Kalokol, on the Fisheries Management and Development Bill.

The Assembly’s Bill No. 29 of 2023, seeks to provide a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the management, development, exploitation, utilization and conservation of fisheries and aquatic resources in Kenya.

The Departmental Committee on Blue Economy had visited Turkana County for  consultations with key stakeholders including county government, BMUs, conservation organizations and aquaculture investors. This, is in line with Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

The county team led by Deputy County Secretary, Dr Albert Gamoe, expressed his satisfaction for the engagement noting, the views voiced by the county government and BMUs as key stakeholders, should finally be considered once the Bill is published.

However, according to Dr Gamoe, he queried the composition of the membership of both Kenya Fisheries Council and the Fisheries Marketing Authority, which he said, was unfairly proposed. “The majority of membership of these institutions were full of national representation except one available for the counties. Increasing the number of membership for fair representation of the blue economy-based counties will do us proud,” he suggested.

In addition to this, DCS pointed out that most of the key institutions for the fisheries are based in Nairobi. He proposed the Kenya Fisheries Council and Marketing Authority be decentralized to counties with blue economy resources like Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru and Turkana owing to their huge contribution to the sector.

He further remarked that Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and Development is a fully devolved function. He described the current Bill as a disfavour to counties, he recommended that counties should have their distinct functions well spelt out in the Bill.

The County Chief Officer for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon Peter Ikaru echoed the statement by DCS that the proposed Bill should fairly bring out the roles played by both governments in matters fisheries management to avoid duplication.

He also guided that the stakeholder engagement should not only focus on Lake Turkana general resources, but also give attention to aspects of aquaculture investments, both in capture and land-based, as well as the entire fish value chain from production to marketing.

The Members of Parliament for Mwingi North Hon Paul Nzengu Musyimi and Hon George Gachagua for Ndaragwa, were the Departmental Committee Members who led the consultations in Kalokol, Turkana Central.

Hon Musyimi assured the stakeholders that after ongoing countrywide consultations, their contributions would be considered in the final Bill, as citizen involvement in the legislative process strengthens and deepens good governance.

Stephen Ekuwom, the county chair of  all BMUs in Turkana, proposed that the draft Bill should include the stipend as a motivation to the BMU’s management across all the blue economy counties. He suggested that the new law should streamline the licensing function. He decried that currently his members are paying twice for the licence from national and county governments.

At the same time, Leah Ewoi of Kalokol Fishing Organization, pleaded with the House Committee that the proposed Bill should help get rid of middlemen and cartels involved in the Fisheries Sector in Turkana.

She added that there should be a clause in the law that outlaws the selling and buying  of illegal fishing gears right from the source in order to protect local traders in the value chain.

The BMU’s in the consultative forum were Impreza, Naremit, Kangoleita, Loroo, Natirae, Daraja and Ekoyem.

The National Assembly Bill had the following as its key components; Establishment of the Kenya Fisheries Service, Management of Fisheries Resources, Aquaculture Development, Institutional Framework, Conservation and Prevention Measures, Enforcement, Monitoring Control and Surveillance and Public Participation.