Minister urged to ensure boat safety at L Victoria

House Speaker Kenneth Marende has asked Transport minister Amos Kimunya to improve safety standards of boats in Lake Victoria.

The order to Mr Kimunya came after MPs Millie Odhiambo (nominated, ODM), John Mbadi (Gwassi, ODM), Shakeel Shabbir (Kisumu Town West, ODM) and Manson Nyamweya (South Mugirango, Ford People) said that there were no rescue boats in the lake, which also encompasses Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The MPs said Mr Kimunya’s explanation that there were two patrol boats operating in the lake did not wash. They said the boats were not rescue boats “but should be tackling pirates and the lawless people in the lake".

They said there was need to have a rescue boat fitted with proper emergency facilities to take care of accidents in the lake.

The Speaker said an audit of the safety boats in the lake will be done in the next three months to assess the minister’s commitment to the House that the matter was being addressed.

The minister said he had encouraged fishermen to carry mobile phones in their canoes when they go fishing in the lake or when they cross the lake, so as to notify the rescue centres.

The minister said the patrol boats were fitted with very high frequency (VHF) radios and all emergency facilities and were constantly patrolling the lake, and thus available, for emergency duties.

“Once a boat has capsized, someone needs to notify the rescue team,” said Mr Kimunya.

The matter came to Parliament just weeks after a boat that was travelling from Sena in Mfangano to Mbita capsized killing 14 people. Six survived.

Kenya Navy divers came from Mombasa three days later to help recover the bodies. It is believed the boat, carrying furniture and passengers, was overloaded.