Lamu boat owners disrupt workshop as they reject ‘tough’ maritime rules

A workshop organised in Lamu by the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) to sensitise boat owners on marine safety was on Wednesday disrupted after more than 500 participants stormed out after failing to agree on penalties for maritime crimes.

Problems started when the boat owners and KMA officials who were presiding over the event failed to agree on how and when penalties for maritime crimes were to be implemented.

According to one of the boat owners, Mr Hussein Abuu, the maritime regulations are too tough for them to conform to.

The ensuing standoff lasted for over half an hour before police were called in to restore order for the event to continue.

“We are upset by the stated marine penalties. They are too stiff and harsh for us to comply with. We need to be given time before such strict rules are imposed to us,” said Mr Abuu.

Speaking at the event, Lamu County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri appealed to the boat owners to adhere to the maritime rules for their own benefit.

Mr Kanyiri defended KMA saying they were not responsible for the formation of the regulations and asked those who had issues to seek clarification from Parliament instead.

RULES MUST BE FOLLOWED

“Maritime rules must be followed to the letter in order to save lives. KMA shouldn’t be blamed since they didn’t come up with the rules.

“These are [rules made by] government and so whoever feels anything should be rectified, then they should forward such suggestions to Parliament. Otherwise the law must be respected by all,” said Mr Kanyiri.

KMA Director Chenje Mwachiro said the objective of the workshop was to sensitise all sea users in the county on safety precautions to be observed while at sea.

Prof Mwachiro said the trend by many boat operators to flout maritime regulations while at sea including failure to use life jackets on their passengers had resulted in huge loss of lives.

“Here in Lamu, for instance, the biggest concern is that many boat owners don’t have life jackets. The men mostly refuse to wear the jackets on the [excuse] that they know how to swim. Let’s think of each other even as we seek livelihoods using our boats. That’s why we call for total adherence to maritime rules,” said Mwachiro.

Lamu Boat Owners Association Chairman Hassan Awadh, however, insisted that they would only observe the maritime regulations if KMA agrees to meet with them to reach an agreement on the matter.

“We are ready to follow some of those rules but first, we demand for dialogue between us, KMA and even the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). Failure to that, I assure you that we will down our tools,” said Mr Awadh.