What was supposed to be a normal fishing expedition for four Kenyan fishermen off disputed Migingo Island in Lake Victoria turned out to be hell after being arrested by Tanzanian security officers.
Gordon Owiti, 41, and a father of five said on June 25 he took his boat and hired three other fishermen for a fishing expedition outside the lake.
The other three were Eric Mosomi, 35 a father of four, Samuel Isaya, 41, a father of two and Joseph Stephen, 27 a father of two.
Both set off from Kibro beach in Muhuru Bay town along Lake Victoria in Migori county.
“We were using hooks and lines and started setting them from 2pm up to about 7pm in the lake around Migingo Island which is rich in fish before we went to sleep on the boat after cooking,” Owiti narrated.
Since they were tired, the fishermen fell asleep and were woken up by their boat being tossed violently after their lines were hooked into a trawler by a Tanzania boat.
“We followed our lines and realised we were entangled on the boat and our fish was taken and lines destroyed,” Owiti said. That was on June 26.
An altercation deep in the lake ensued on the best way for both fishermen to recoup their losses before Tanzania border patrol security officers came by and arrested them.
“They told us our boat will be towed to Sota beach in Tanzania Rorya district and they took us in the boat for patrol the whole day with the promise they would set us free at the beach, little did we know we were in for a ride that lasted for 68 days,” Mosomi said.
On September 3, the four fishermen stepped into the country at Isebania border crossing for the first time after being tossed through several police stations, prisons and arraigned in court for robbery with violence charges.
The four said after being booked at a police post on Rukuba island and being denied food and phone contact, they were able to contact their family after one-and-a-half weeks.
“When they did not return, we got word that they were arrested after their boat turned up at Sota beach. We started physically walking in all police stations in Rorya district looking for them until we located them at a court in Tarime a week and a half after being arrested,” Joel Maulidi, the Kibro Beach Management Unit chairman said.
The fishermen said while in Kenya a prisoner should be availed in court 24 hours after being arrested, in Tanzania they alleged there was no time frame.
“We were constantly being beaten and we have suffered pain and trauma. We only ate ugali and beans which was served once a day, because our relatives did not know where to find us nobody brought us food and basic amenities,” Mosomi said.
The fishermen said they survived on food from fellow inmates when visited by their relatives and only managed to place a call while in court when they appeared for the first time.
“We were shocked when we were charged with robbery with violence crime for stealing 26 fish and nothing was mentioned on our boat, gears and engines which cost me over Sh300,000. They are yet to be returned,” Owiti said.
Owiti, said his swollen left foot was as a result of the beatings he used to get while in prison from constant beating.
For the four to secure their freedom, Kibro Beach Management Unit (BMU) chairman Joel Maulidi and Muhuru Bay MCA Hevron Maira said they had to raise over Sh300,000 through leaders contributions.
“The 26 fish they were accused of stealing violently cost Tsh366,000 (about Sh17,200),” Maira said.
The team said they had to pay Sh75,000 to a court clerk, Sh60,000 to an officer at Tanzanian attorney general chambers and Sh50,000 to Tanzania fishermen for them to be released.
“When a Kenyan is arrested in Tanzania officials and complainants see us as a cash cow, because our money has greater value. So in each angle we are harassed,” Maira said.
Maira said it is unfortunate that despite efforts to bring calm in the fishing industry, fishermen still go through harassment and face arrest for crimes they have not committed. BY THE STAR