A fisherman inspects his boats at disputed Migingo Islnd
By MN Reporter
Government should consider station a Navy base at disputed Migingo island to help boost security in lake Victoria, Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga has said.
Anyanga said the base will form key patrol center in all Kenyan islands and to boost socio-economic development in Nyanza and Western area.
He said the station should have been brought in the area a long time ago as “last parliament passed the motion and
government should just take it up.”
The legislator told Migori News that the base will not stoke up tension but keep off banditry and harassment by Ugandans which has been experienced in Migori, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya and Busia counties.
“Let us face the truth, police officers are not equipped to patrol water to offer security. And Lake Victoria is an international water as it border Uganda and Tanzania,” he insisted.
He also said that six years after millions were spent in a joint Kenya and Uganda survey at the disputed island nothing has come of it.
“Peace effort at Migingo began during the coalition government and in last election it formed major basis of presidential campaign, but nothing has been done so far,” he said.
Migingo Beach Management Unit chairman John Obunge said they have been informed the survey work may begin soon.
“We have been informed the survey work may start again in earnest this month, but it’ll, mostly be Kenyans as Ugandans who withdrew refused to come back,” he said.
Obunge said residents of Migingo and other islands welcome the call for a navy base in the lake insisting “currently police officers are not trained to work in water, lack basic equipment like boats and rescue gears.”
Residents have always complained of poor services offered by police officers in the island.
