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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has unveiled plans to scale up security operations on Lake Victoria to address persistent disputes affecting Kenyan fishermen.
Speaking at the Jukwaa La Usalama forum in Kisumu, Murkomen said the lake has long been a hotspot of tension, particularly in relations with Uganda, and stressed the need for cross-border cooperation to ease conflicts.
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He announced that the government will deploy more police officers to the region, acquire additional patrol boats, and invest in modern surveillance tools to safeguard Kenyan waters.
“The state has allocated resources to purchase new boats and advanced equipment to boost patrol capacity and improve security on the lake,” he said, accompanied by Interior PS Raymond Omollo.
Murkomen added that Kenya is working with Uganda through a joint initiative to improve security in the lake region. The cooperation framework, which was recently reviewed during President Yoweri Museveni’s visit to Kenya, places emphasis on jointly managing fish resources — a frequent source of disputes due to their migratory nature.
The CS noted that Kenyan fishermen have often been victims of harassment and loss of equipment during cross-border confrontations. To address this, liaison officers will be stationed on both sides of the border to help resolve issues swiftly.
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He further announced that Beach Management Units (BMUs) will be included in sub-county security meetings to provide grassroots perspectives on protecting both the lake and fishermen’s livelihoods.
“One of our national priorities is enhancing security on water bodies like Lake Victoria by empowering the Coast Guard and strengthening border patrols,” Murkomen said.
