Homa Bay County MCAs have blamed the state for allowing the collapse of the fishing industry in the country.

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The MCAs were debating on the concern pertaining regarding the importation of fish from China.

The Motion to discuss Chinese fish importation to Kenyan markets was raised by Gembe Ward MCA Paul Ouma who claimed that the samples of Chinese fish had been spotted in Homa Bay Town market last week.

The MCAs said the importation of fish into the Kenyan market is killing the fishing industry in the county and wants the government to stop the importation.

“Importation of fish from China will render our fishermen jobless because Homa Bay County boasts of the largest part of Lake Victoria in the country,” said Ouma.

However, Majority Leader in the House Michael Ooro blamed the MCAs for not helping the county government to implement aquaculture related programmes in their wards.

The Members of County Assembly accused the state of neglecting industries located in counties in Western Kenya.

Nominated MCA Ruth Ombura called on the governors whose counties border Lake Victoria to sue the State over the importation.

“There is nowhere a survey was conducted by the State to find out whether fish harvest from Lake Victoria cannot adequately supply the local markets,” said Ombura.

Homa Bay county government has aquaculture programmes in every ward of the county.

In its budget for financial year 2016/2017, the county has allocated Sh45 million to help in resuscitating the fishing sector in the county.

The county plans to buy four patrol boats at Sh1million each, construct fish auctioning centres worth 13 million and to construct 160 fish ponds in all the 40 wards of the county a cost of Sh4 million.

Homa Bay County Executive for Agriculture and Fisheries Eliud Otieno said the county has embarked on a series of programmes meant to boost fish production in the county.

In the recent weeks, it has been reported in local media that East Africa Sea Food Limited has been importing Tilapia from China.

The imported Tilapia is packaged, frozen and imported to Kenya.