Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ali Hassan Joho has formed a 12-member taskforce to review the Fisheries Management and Development (Aquaculture) regulations 2024.
This comes after the high court’s decision to suspend the regulations, which were to take effect on 1st January 2025 until 10th February 2025, following a constitutional petition filed by the Lake Victoria Aquaculture Association (LVA).
In the petition, LVA argued that the regulations introduced punitive licensing fees and an ad valorem levy on fish landed, measures deemed unconstitutional and detrimental to the growth of Kenya’s aquaculture industry.
The taskforce comprises representatives from the Ministry, the Council of Governors (CoG), the Lake Victoria Aquaculture (LVA) Association, and other key sector players.
Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, Wala Joseph, will lead the government representatives in the team, which also includes Assistant Directors of Fisheries Roy Aseka and John Kwanya and Legal Counsel Leonard Bett.
Industry Representatives in the taskforce include LVA board Secretary Pete Ondeng, Aquaculture Alliance of Kenya (AAK) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stanley Mworia, Victory Farms Chief Development Officer Caesar Asiyo, Africa Blue CEO Albert Altena, African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET) Vice President Suzanne Kuria, Rio Farm Limited CEO Angela Odero, Legal and Governance Advisor Victor Odhiambo, and LVA board member Atieno Otieno.
The team will collect views, deliberate on stakeholders’ concerns, and derive practical recommendations to resolve the issues that led to the suspension of the regulations.
It is expected to deliver actionable recommendations before the court-ordered suspension of the regulations expires on 10 February 2025.
LVA Board Chairman Hon. Ochieng’ Mbeo lauded the CS for establishing the taskforce, saying it will go a long way in ironing out all the contentious issues raised by stakeholders.
The regulations, which seek to introduce a Sh50,000 licensing fee on all aquaculture investments in public waters and a 5% ad valorem fee on fish landed, he said were developed and gazetted without the input of stakeholders.
“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,” he said.
LVA Board Secretary and Co-Chair of the Taskforce, Ondeng, called for constructive dialogue to steer the aquaculture sector forward.
Collaboration and accountability, he said, were critical in the development of a robust blue economy sector in the country.
“LVA remains dedicated to working with the government and stakeholders to develop policies that support sustainable aquaculture growth and economic empowerment,” he said.
By Chris Mahandara
