Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma has asked the national government to impose a 100 per cent ban on fish imports from China, citing that there was no logical rationale for allowing the trade which has already affected the local fish market.
In a statement sent to the media on Sunday, Ranguma said that allowing the imports would increase unemployment, poverty and inequality in the economies of counties like Kisumu that have traditionally depended on fisheries for livelihood.
Ranguma said there was also lack of clarity on use of territorial waters, as well as on legislation regarding enforcement of taxation on fisheries products in the country.
The county boss further added that the national government was to blame for the mess.
Fisheries remains a devolved function constitutionally but governors have complained that most of the activities have remained supervised by the parent Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development run by the national government.
He faulted the subsidies given to fish processing firms in the form of 5-year tax holiday instead of the same being channeled to the ordinary fishermen who are struggling with poor implements.
Ranguma said that the Chinese fish importation into Kenya is a proof that while the country had hoped to earn foreign currency from exports by the fish processing firms yet the country is losing.