National Super Alliance (NASA) MPs on Wednesday demanded that Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni immediately releases 22 fishermen arrested in Lake Victoria by the Ugandan police.
Led by legislators John Mbadi (Suba South) and Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), the MPs urged Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to ensure that the fishermen are returned safely demanding an explanation for the 'repeated occurrence'.
They further asked the government to protect the border as the residents of the area are tax paying Kenyans.
[caption caption="Suba South MP John Mbadi "]
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"Why can't we deploy that kind of force to protect the Kenyan people yet we deploy it to protect ballot boxes? Why don't we deploy the same resources? All of us are taxpayers," Mbadi stated at Parliament buildings.
"Before self-determination, we are still in Kenya. If we don't belong in Kenya we should be informed so that we find our way forward. If you have a government that does not treat you as a Kenyan, why should our people pay taxes?" he posed.
On her part, Ms Odhiambo accused the government of providing security only to protect its interests.
"You cannot have a government that only produces security when they are killing our people. We did not elect him (Uhuru) and we will go into mode two.
"People can be governed either directly or by their representatives. The government has been unable to resolve issues to do with fishermen. Most of our Islands are under Ugandan occupation," she explained.
[caption caption="File image of NASA MPs"]
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Thirdly, the agitated MPs proclaimed that they were tired of the discrimination exhibited by the government adding that the President should let them secede and govern themselves if he could not provide for their needs.
Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga stated: "If the government is tired of Nyanza, we're ready to go it alone. We'll not force ourselves into a relationship that's not working."
The government has deliberately ignored the cries of the people who fish in Lake Victoria. The people from our region will not accept to be slaves in our own country," Mr Mbadi reiterated.
