Fishermen cry foul as fuel shortage bites

BUSIA, Kenya, April 6 – Fishermen within the beaches of Lake Victoria in Bunyala Sub County are hard hit by the ravaging shortage of fuel which has affected the entire country.

According the Secretary of Marenga- Omena Beach Management Unit Omondi Ndeke, the crisis has affected the fishing expeditions which are driven by ox bow engines that are propelled by petrol.

“There is huge shortage of petrol and the fishermen can go for more than two days without conducting their businesses,” he said adding that the cost of fuel has increased from the initial Sh 130 to Sh 250 per litre.

Ndeke lamented that the crisis has negatively affected the BMU revenue collection along the beach due to the reduction of boats being used and the number of days for fishing expeditions.

“On normal days, we fish for omena for 21 days in a month,” he said explaining that the current situation has made the fisher folk to skip three days. He asked the government to consider normalizing the situation so that the affected people can continue with their businesses.

Rajab Ongoma, a fisherman lamented that the precious commodity is very difficult to come by exposing them to untold suffering.

“As fishermen, we rely on paraffin and petrol, but the shortage of these commodities has forced us to move all the way to Siaya County and the neighbouring country of Uganda but all in vain,” he said.

 Ongoma asked the government to intervene in their situation lamenting that it has led to job losses. “Schools are almost being re-opened and we do not know where we will get school fess,” he lamented.

The sad fuel situation has forced the BMU to ground 15 out of its 1500 fishing boats.