Fri, 8 Feb 2008 05:41:40



Fish has become a rare commodity in western Kenya forcing many families to remove fish from their minds after the post- election violence sent prices spiraling.

Kisumu, known as the city of fish, is currently experiencing an acute shortage of supply. Fish traders at the Main Jubilee Market have complained that this is the region’s worst fish shortages in history

As a result, eating fish has become an expensive affair which is beyond the reach of the average rural families.

The local communities, especially the Luos, are good fish eaters. Many Luos regarded fish as the most delicious food. Apart from being engaged in fishing business, the local people have are also engaged in all sorts of fish trade.

On the other hand, Kenya is earning close to Ksh.6 billion annually from the Lake Victoria fishing industry. But this is now under grave threat following the countrywide post election skirmishes that has made the transportation of the commodity impossible.

The fishing industry around Lake Victoria is facing two prong threats. The first is the re-emergence of a new type of dangerous water hyacinth which has blocked 60 percent of all fish landing beaches. The new water hyacinth lookslike Napier Grass and dairy farmers and livestock keepers says its very nutritious as animal feed

The other threat to the fishing industry is that most roads are being blocked by rioters and fishermen are refusing to venture into the waters, which they claim are infested with dangerous pirates from foreign countries.

Fish processing companies are now at the risk of losing lucrative overseas markets to the relatively politically stable neighbouring countries of Tanzania and Uganda.

Already Kenya is losing a huge chunk of its fish export markets as fish filleting and exporting companies have scaled down their operations due to insecurity and transport problem.

The few suppliers who have braved the violence and barricades illegaly erected on the roads by political goons have hiked prices beyond the reach of many Kenyans, especially the price of the popular “ Ngege” (Tilapia) and the Nile Perch.

The prevailing harsh situation in Nyanza has also forced fish traders to cut down supplies to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi and other towns, which have also been hit by the poll violence.

Fish traders at the main Kisumu Jubilee market have told this writer that the demand for the delicious tilapia ( Ngege and Nile perch or Mbuta) has outstripped supply. “ We placed orders but fish never reaches our market stalls because roads are blocked by protesters who demand acolossal amount of money from the motorists” said one trader Jane Okoth.

Due to the road transport problem, fishermen in both Rusinga and Mfang’ano Islands Bondo and Busia are forced to bring their catches to Kisumu from a long distance using boats with outboard engines but their movements are curtailed by the water hyacinth.

Major Hotels in Kisumu and in other western Kenya towns are also said to be feeling the pinch because it has become difficult for them to get fish. Many people said they have opted for red meat and vegetables

A visit to most fish landing beaches showed that fishing beats are grounded. “We can’t navigate our boats in the waters which is affected by the water hyacinth as our boats are marooned and idle.

Many regular suppliers have also doubled the wholesale prices because they have to pay extra levies at the many illegal road blocks set on the road by the marauding youths,” commented James Onyango, a fish trader at the Kisumu Jubilee market.

Fish processing firms says they have been incurring heavy losses because their vehicles cannot reach the beaches in time to bring fish since the roads are blocked. Their agents have the fish but cannot reach the processing plants. The majority of fish processing plants in the country are located in Nyanza Province and others are found in Mombasa, Thika and Nairobi. The worst hit are the factories located in Homa- Bay, Migori and Kisumu Town.

Rioting Villagers have also been reported as staging surprise attacks on boats ferrying fish from the isolated fishing island to the mainland for eventual transportation to other destination .