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Joho forms task force to review contentious regulations

The task force includes representatives from the Ministry, the Council of Governors (CoG)and the Lake Victoria Aquaculture (LVA) Association

Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Ali Joho, has formed a task force whose duty will be to address contentious issues related to regulations of fisheries management and development.

The move follows a petition filed by the Lake Victoria Aquaculture (LVA) Association on 24 December 2024, challenging the regulations published under Legal Notice No. 126 of 2024.

Those appointed include Pete Ondeng, Stanley Mworia, Angela Odero, Suzanne Kuria, Albert Altena, Caesar Asiyo, Atieno Otieno, Victor Odhiambo Akuom, Mahongah Wala Joseph, Roy Aseka, John Kwanya, and Leonard Bett.

According to the association, the regulations introduced punitive licensing fees and an ad valorem levy on fish landed, measures that they argued were unconstitutional and detrimental to the growth of Kenya’s aquaculture industry.

The task force includes representatives from the Ministry, the Council of Governors (CoG), the Lake Victoria Aquaculture (LVA) Association, and other key sector players.

The mandate of the task force is to deliberate on issues raised and arrive practical recommendations aimed at resolving the issues that led to the court-ordered suspension of the regulations.

Speaking during the meeting, Joho there is need for the task force to approach their mandate positively and collaboratively. “We are not in competition,” he said in reference to the legal case. “We are all on the same team. We all want the sector to succeed,” he added.

The LVA association was established in July 2024 to advance a well-regulated, sustainable aquaculture industry in the Lake Victoria region. The association fosters collaboration among fish farmers, industry players, government agencies, and financial institutions, promoting equitable growth, environmental stewardship, and economic empowerment.

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LVA chairman Ochieng’ Mbeo said stakeholders had been excluded from participating in the regulatory process, and several contentious provisions, including unreasonable fees, had been introduced after initial drafts were reviewed.

He said the timing of the Gazettement, just before the eve Christmas break, left the industry with no alternative but to seek court intervention.

“We are very encouraged by the decision by the CS to create an opportunity for the voice of the sector’s stakeholders to be heard in policy making,” Mbeo added.

Pete Ondeng, LVA Board Secretary and Co-Chair of the task force, reiterated the association’s commitment to constructive dialogue.

“LVA remains dedicated to working with the government and stakeholders to develop policies that support sustainable aquaculture growth and economic empowerment,” he said. He praised CS Joho’s decision to establish the task force and emphasized the importance of collaboration and accountability in advancing Kenya’s Blue Economy.

The task force is set to begin work immediately and is expected to deliver actionable recommendations before the court-ordered suspension of the regulations expires on 10 February 2025.

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