Several people were on Friday, December 4, injured during a bloody fight along the beaches of Lake Naivasha.
The clash pitted licensed fishermen against poachers who sought control of fishing activities on the water body.
One person sustained serious injuries and a boat torched during the fight which put operations at a standstill on some of the beaches.
Speaking on the incident, Kamere landing beach chair Wesley Kimutai claimed that the group of unlicensed fishermen attacked four people using crude weapons.
"We have suffered enough under the hands of these crooks. It’s time that action was taken before more blood was shed,” he stated.
One person was seriously injured in the attack as the fishermen alleged that the poachers were behind fish theft in the area.
One of the fishermen alleged that they restocked the lake with fingerlings which the illegal parties would take advantage of.
"These poachers are fishing even on breeding grounds and along the shores adversely affecting fish production,” he stated.
In response to the violence, Naivasha sub-county commissioner Mutua Kisilu assured that a multi-agency security team had been formed to deal with the poachers.
“Since the Covid-19 pandemic was reported, the number of illegal fishermen has risen sharply leading to a drop in fish catch due to poor fishing methods and over-fishing,” he stated.
In October 2020, The Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) established a patrol and surveillance base at Lake Naivasha in the latest efforts towards curbing increased illegal fishing at the water body.
Nakuru County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Immaculate Maina stated that the patrols would also tackle all security challenges to restore confidence among fisherfolk and locals in the region.
