By Jesse Sikali

The 26 Kenyan fishermen arrested in Lake Victoria by the Tanzanian border patrol units four months ago have re united with their families.

On Sunday, a boat carrying them arrived at Kayakire beach in Muhuru Bay after leaving Sota beach in Tanzania.

The team arrested on September 5 and was held at Musoma Police station in Tanzania, their six boats were left behind after they were declared derelict after being left unattended for the period.

Muhuru Bay MCA  Hevrone Maira said the fishermen were received by their families over the weekend and appealed to both the county and the national Government to mind about the security of fishermen.

“There is need for the security of the fishermen to be guaranteed in the lake to make their work easy and avoid being arrested,” he said.

Fishermen said they were frustrated after the arrest and they were released without some of their wares.

 “We have suffered for long at long last we are freed we were arrested by Tanzania security officer  who were patrolling the Lake at night of 5th November 2018 accusing us of crossing the boundary and using illegal fishing in the Lake,” said Jared Okoth fisherman.

Okoth accuses the Tanzania police at Musoma police station for harassment event denying them food

“We were forced to spend a night or a day without food, otherwise we are happy to come back home today,” said Okoth.

Opiyo Otiwa a fisherman said their boats are worn out and they cannot use them anymore because they are licking.

“Six boats which were seized by Tanzania security were exposed in direct sunlight for three months now, they have cracks which cannot be repaired, how we call the Government to come in our aid,” he said.