Government agrees to withdraw contested fisheries Bill following stakeholder pressure

The Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs and the Council of Governors (CoG) have agreed to jointly petition Parliament to withdraw the Fisheries Management and Development Bill (2023) and initiate a fresh, inclusive review process in a major win for fisheries stakeholders across Kenya.

The decision was reached following a high-level presentation made by the Lake Victoria Aquaculture (LVA) Association at a sitting of the CoG Blue Economy Committee in Mombasa, chaired by Governor Paul Otuoma.

The session took an unexpected and decisive turn when Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho joined the meeting and offered his full support for the call to pause and rethink the current legislative process.

“We are fully aligned with the view that the legal framework governing our fisheries and aquaculture sectors must be forward-looking, inclusive, and practical,” said CS Joho. “What we must avoid is a disjointed patchwork of outdated laws. This process deserves the careful attention of all stakeholders. “He said.

The decision follows months of coordinated advocacy by the LVA Association, a membership body launched in late 2024 to serve as a unified platform for the country’s aquaculture stakeholders. In early April, the LVA Association convened a high-level roundtable in Kisumu, bringing together over 40 experts and stakeholders to review the proposed Bill. The participants unanimously resolved that the Fisheries Management and Development Bill (2023) is deeply flawed and must be withdrawn.

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On April 7, the LVA Association formally wrote to the Clerk of the National Assembly, urging Parliament to suspend the Bill and launch a comprehensive and inclusive legislative review. The letter highlighted several serious concerns, including the Bill’s replication of outdated 2016 provisions, lack of a guiding national aquaculture policy, failure to recognize aquaculture as a distinct economic sector, and insufficient provisions for devolution and stakeholder participation.

In addition, the LVA Association submitted a detailed memorandum outlining the Bill’s technical and policy weaknesses, with particular emphasis on its potential to stifle innovation, investment, and inclusive growth in aquaculture.

As a direct result of this advocacy, the Ministry and CoG have now committed to the formation of a Joint Working Group that will oversee a new, transparent, and collaborative drafting process. The resulting legislation will then be introduced to Parliament for consideration.

“This is a significant breakthrough and a huge step forward for everyone who depends on a thriving and well-governed fisheries sector,” said Peter Ondeng, Secretary to the LVA Board and founding architect of the LVA Association. “We commend the Ministry and the Council of Governors for listening to stakeholders and for showing leadership in charting a better path forward.”

The LVA Association will continue to work closely with stakeholders, government institutions, and development partners to ensure the new legislative process is inclusive, evidence-based, and anchored in Kenya’s constitutional and development priorities.

By Fredrick Odiero

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