Murkomen says Kenya and Uganda finalising deal to resolve Lake Victoria row
Murkomen also announced plans to establish a patrol base at Usenge Beach, which will work with Muhuru Bay and Isebania posts under a multi-agency team led by the Kenya Coast Guard Service.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has confirmed that Kenya and Uganda are finalising a cooperation deal to resolve long-standing boundary disputes on Lake Victoria.
Speaking during his Jukwaa la Usalama tour in Siaya County on Wednesday, Murkomen said the pact will help address conflicts that have led to arbitrary arrests and the confiscation of fishing gear.
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"President Museveni was in Kenya less than three months ago to sign a joint cooperation agreement. During the meeting, which I attended, it was agreed that mining CS Hassan Joho and his Ugandan counterpart sit together and see how we can jointly benefit from the resources of Lake Victoria," said the CS.
His remarks came in response to complaints from fishermen about harassment by Ugandan security personnel patrolling the lake in Western and Nyanza regions.
Murkomen acknowledged that some of the charges levelled against fishermen were actually bribes demanded by rogue officers. He noted that the problem had persisted for too long and called for a lasting solution through the implementation of the Joint Cooperation Agreement signed between the two countries.
Lake Victoria’s resources
The earlier meeting between the two heads of state sought to create peaceful ways to share and manage Lake Victoria’s resources.
Murkomen also announced plans to establish a patrol base at Usenge Beach, which will work with Muhuru Bay and Isebania posts under a multi-agency team led by the Kenya Coast Guard Service.
"We need to enhance the Coast Guard numbers and equipment, and set up a border post for the Coast Guard in Usenge to help with the operations," he said.
He commended the Coast Guard’s work despite limited resources, but stressed that all suspects must be subjected to legal processes.
The CS further revealed that the government is planning an inter-ministerial meeting and pursuing diplomatic engagements on the issue.
Addressing the challenge of porous borders that have enabled the smuggling of contraband goods as well as the trafficking of drugs and illicit alcohol, Murkomen ordered an intelligence-led crackdown targeting both suppliers and consumers.
He also reminded locals that unregulated mining is a national security threat and a loss of government revenue. He called for intergovernmental consultations between ministries and county governments to agree on licensing and enforcement.
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