By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 21 November 2025 - A long-awaited sense of relief is sweeping across fishing communities in Siaya County following the delivery of six modern speed patrol boats—assets that local leaders say will reshape surveillance, safety, and resource protection on Lake Victoria. The KSh 15 million fiberglass vessels, supplied by Kenya Shipyard Limited, have been dispatched to beaches in Utonga, Mahanga, Kadiala, Port South, and Lwanda Kotieno, with Bondo and Rarieda subcounties receiving three boats each.
The investment marks a significant departure from previous budget proposals by three Members of County Assembly (MCAs), who had each allocated KSh 700,000 for wooden boats—vessels that fishermen say rarely last beyond three years.
Governor James Orengo rejected the wooden-boat plan, instead topping up each allocation with an additional KSh 1.7 million to ensure the county acquired durable, high-speed fiberglass alternatives.
For beach management units (BMUs), the delivery ends a 13-year wait.
Port South Beach chairman Lazarus Ochieng Rabok notes that while patrol boats have consistently been listed as priorities during public participation forums, implementation has always lagged.
“The lack of patrol boats has cost us immensely, including arrests by Ugandan security officers. Fishermen were often forced to pay up to KSh 30,000 to secure release,” he said, adding that the new vessels will help curb illegal fishing and safeguard breeding grounds.
Several BMU leaders say the shift to fiberglass is critical. Wooden boats, they argue, are ill-suited for patrol missions or for navigating sensitive breeding zones. Kadedi Beach chairman Shiraji Otieno reports that surveillance operations have already begun, enabling faster response to emergencies in a lake notorious for capsizing incidents.
Fisherfolk have long complained of inadequate rescue mechanisms and persistent cross-border hostilities. Ugandan security personnel have frequently been accused of arresting Kenyan fishermen, confiscating their catch, and even mistreating them while in custody.
“These new boats allow us to pursue intruders bumper-to-bumper,” a BMU leader said, emphasising the need for high-powered engines to counter cross-border aggression.
Security concerns remain high on Lwanda Kotieno’s agenda. BMU chairman George Moi is now urging Governor Orengo to station at least two coastguards at the beach, arguing that reliance on officers stationed at distant ports delays emergency response. Local leaders say BMUs are willing to shoulder hosting costs if it guarantees improved security.
West Yimbo MCA Simon Angula says the prolonged procurement period led to accusations that funds had been diverted—claims he countered by frequently visiting the shipyard to confirm progress. The new boats, he argues, will restore freedom of movement and reduce the vulnerability of Kenyan fishermen in conflict-prone zones. “Mahanga beach has been a hotspot for Ugandan intrusions. These boats now give us the tools to defend our territory,” he said.
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However, Angula stresses that speedboats alone cannot counter armed foreign forces. He is calling for the reinstatement of the Quick Response Team (QRT), which previously helped deter hostilities along the lake border. “Even with speedboats, we cannot face Ugandans armed with guns. QRT’s presence used to keep them in check,” he said.
Other MCAs echoed the sentiment of relief and renewed trust. South Sakwa West MCA Taabu Osewe said the delivery fulfills a key campaign promise, while South Uyoma MCA Michael Adiala highlighted the boats’ wider significance for Siaya’s blue-economy ambitions. He linked improved lake security to renewed prospects for stalled projects such as the Lwanda Kotieno fish processing plant.
County officials say safety and professionalism have been prioritized. Agriculture and Blue Economy CEC Silvester Kokoth said coxswains operating the vessels have been trained by the shipyard.
He emphasised that fiberglass boats offer superior speed, safety, and durability compared to traditional wooden vessels—features that are essential for patrol work. Kokoth added that BMU leaders will undergo further governance training to ensure proper management of the new assets.
Chief Officer Elizabeth Adongo confirmed that each boat—fitted with 25-horsepower engines—comes equipped with 500-kg-capacity cooler boxes, life jackets, flares, and other safety gear.
She said the vessels will play an important role in protecting Siaya’s 19 fish breeding zones, which have suffered from years of illegal fishing and lax enforcement.
The arrival of the boats signals more than a procurement success; it marks a structural shift in how Siaya County intends to manage its lake resources, enforce territorial integrity, and safeguard its fisherfolk.
For communities that have long borne the brunt of insecurity and underinvestment, the vessels represent both a fresh start and a long-overdue validation of their demands.
