President Uhuru Kenyatta has been challenged to salvage the economy of Nyanza residents by helping them alleviate water hyacinth which has engulfed a huge part of Lake Victoria.
This, says political analyst Dr Onyango Ochieng Jr, is one of the benefits the people of Nyanza should enjoy from the handshake between Uhuru and the region’s political supremo Raila Odinga besides peace.
“An aquatic water hyacinth harvester is only Sh72 million. How much does the state spend? In fact, on tea for the President (it) is Sh3 billion,” states the analyst.
He added that Uhuru should in the name of “political goodwill” sacrifice his State House tea for one month and the proceeds of the same to be used to purchase an aquatic water hyacinth harvester.
Ochieng observed that if the President did this, he will better the economy of Nyanza people who rely on fishing as their main income generating activity.
He will also be a step towards the right direction as far as Blue Economy is concerned, added the analyst.
Data by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) shows that the weed has invaded about 3,000 hectares of the lake leaving fishermen as the biggest casualties.
Beaches along the lake have not been spared either as the weed has spread wildly forcing them out of business.
According to KMFRI’s technician John Ouko, reports the Standard, water hyacinth grows twice as much in five to 15 days under suitable conditions.