Coast fisherfolk demand action on land grabs, mismanagement and licensing chaos at landing sites
In a session chaired by Bamburi MCA Patrick Mbelle, leaders from Mkupe Beach Management Unit laid bare a series of long-standing grievances that have undermined the region’s fishing communities.
Beach management units (BMUs) along Kenya's Coast have raised the alarm over growing land disputes and widespread mismanagement in the fisheries sector, citing unresolved ownership of key fish landing sites, delays in issuing title deeds, and the illegal privatisation of public spaces.
They also raised the alarm over irregular licensing, internal governance disruptions, and environmental damage linked to large-scale infrastructure projects, prompting intervention from the Mombasa County Assembly Committee on Blue Economy, Agriculture, and Livestock.
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In a session chaired by Bamburi MCA Patrick Mbelle, leaders from Mkupe Beach Management Unit laid bare a series of long-standing grievances that have undermined the region’s fishing communities.
Central to their petition was the continued failure to resolve land tenure at key landing sites, despite a 2018 presidential directive requiring their formal recognition and gazettement.
No title deeds
BMU Chairman Mohammed Bakari told the committee that although some survey work had been done, title deeds for most landing sites had not been issued.
“The situation had left fisherfolk exposed to land grabbing and contributed to the demolition of critical infrastructure like our meeting hall, which had derailed administrative operations,” he said.
Bakari added that 11 sites, such as Likoni and Shimoni, were protected under Legal Notice No. 34 of 1991, but dozens more remained unrecognised, fueling encroachments by private developers.
The session also heard about breakdowns in internal leadership.
Robert Marua, a BMU official, said former leaders had interfered with the unit’s certification process, leading to confusion and stalled progress. He asked the committee to step in and ensure BMUs operate within legally binding structures.
Further accusations were levelled regarding the issuing of fishing permits.
Halima Mweru, the BMU secretary, claimed that two rival groups, dubbed BMU A and BMU B, had taken advantage of the administrative confusion to collect fees and distribute licences unlawfully.
“This double licensing is breeding mistrust and eroding our legitimacy,” she said.
Environmental damage
Environmental damage tied to large-scale developments such as Mwache Dam and the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone also came under scrutiny.
Fisherfolk said fish stocks had diminished sharply in recent years, which they blamed on dredging, pollution and habitat destruction.
They also criticised the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) programme for poor transparency, with allegations that funding intended for coastal empowerment was being hijacked by elites linked to beach hotel businesses.
In response, MCA Mbelle ordered that the committee be furnished with supporting documents, including a complete register of fish landing sites, BMU certifications, and financial reports linked to KEMFSED allocations.
He also vowed to summon officials from the Department of Cooperatives and the Fisheries Department to provide answers on delayed certification and the apparent licensing chaos.
“We will not allow the livelihoods of our coastal people to be trampled upon by bureaucratic neglect and institutional manipulation,” Mbelle said.
The committee is expected to table its findings later this month, with an eye on drafting policy recommendations and pursuing legal action where necessary to safeguard the integrity of the fisheries sector and restore public confidence.
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