Raila urges Museveni to intervene, stop harassment of Kenyan fishermen

Cord leader Raila Odinga has called on Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his government to intervene and stop harassment of Kenyan fishermen in Lake Victoria.

Mr Odinga decried the increasing rate at which the Kenyan fishermen were being frustrated and even assaulted by the Ugandan authorities, saying such unlawful acts should cease.

He lamented that a lot of fishermen have been arrested and charged in the courts for allegedly fishing in the Uganda waters, and therefore pleaded with President Museveni’s to uphold the spirit of East African integration and ensure peaceful coexistence between Kenyans and Ugandans.

The former Prime Minister also took issue with the customs departments, both on the Kenyan and the Ugandan sides, for allegedly imposing hefty penalties and fines on those who are accused of encroaching into the other’s territory.

Mr Odinga warned the customs officers against extorting money from unsuspecting fishermen, noting that no fish has ever had a mark to indicate whether it belongs to the Kenyan or Ugandan waters.

He made the remarks during a boat racing competition at Siungu beach in Bondo constituency.

In the same function, Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga rubbished claims by National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale that CORD governors have been giving Raila a monthly stipend.

On Wednesday, National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale claimed that Mr Odinga has been receiving monthly stipends, allowances, pocket money and even hotel fees from the CORD governors, a matter that Raila himself has laughed off.

The occasion was also graced by Siaya Deputy Governor Wilson Ouma Onyango and MPs Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), James Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Paul Otuoma (Funyula), George Oner (Rangwe) and John Mbadi (Gwasi).