TURKANA— Three new fishing groups in Turkana North have joined a training programme aimed at strengthening the management and safety of Beach Management Units (BMUs) as fishing gains ground in areas previously dominated by pastoralism.
The groups, Merikuka, Loyoro and Olegech from Lapur Ward, were among 42 participants trained in water and boat safety, emergency preparedness, record-keeping, financial management and post-harvest fish handling.
The three-day training brought together newly elected officials from 14 BMUs in Lowareng’ak and other fishing areas along Lake Turkana. It was supported by the SPREAD Project and implemented by DanChurchAid in partnership with the Turkana Pastoralists Development Organization (TUPADO), with officials from the Kenya Fisheries Service and the Turkana County Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture facilitating the sessions.
The development comes as fishing expands into Lapur following the backflow of Lake Turkana waters, which has brought the lake closer to communities that traditionally relied almost entirely on livestock keeping.
Olegech Group chairman Lonok Lokai Korikan said the training had given him his first formal exposure to fishing practices and safety. “We have been pastoralists all our lives. Now that the lake has come to us, we need skills to fish safely and manage our earnings. After this training I will go back more knowledgeable,” Korikan said.
He called on the Fisheries Department and TUPADO to provide fishing equipment to enable the new groups to apply the skills acquired during the training. “With the fishing gear, we will strike a balance between pastoralism and fishing to enhance livelihoods in our areas,” he added.
The Chief Officer for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Peter Ikaru, said the county government had allocated Sh10 million in the 2026/2027 financial year to purchase fishing equipment for distribution to fisherfolk along Lake Turkana.
Ikaru said the investment was intended to transform fishing from a subsistence activity into a commercial enterprise capable of generating sustainable incomes for local communities. “We want to commercialize fishing to enable our fisherfolk to earn income and sustain themselves,” he said.
He also cautioned fisherfolk and pastoralists to prepare for the expected El Niño rains, warning that heavy rains could disrupt activities on the lake and affect livestock keepers.
Lowareng’ak BMU treasurer Sabina Nangiro urged the county government and development partners to facilitate exchange visits between local BMUs and established fishing groups in other parts of the country. “Learning is a continuous process. It will be our pleasure to learn from well established BMUs in Kisumu and Busia. This will help us interact and link up with ready markets for our products,” Nangiro said.
TUPADO official Benson Elamach said the training was designed to equip BMU officials with technical skills to improve the management and operations of the units. He said the new BMU expected to be formed from the three fishing groups in Lapur Ward would receive support to formalise its operations.
“The BMU to be formed from the groups in Lapur Ward will be supported with boats, engines and fishing nets,” Elamach said.
He added that Turkana County and TUPADO would monitor existing BMUs to assess their functionality and progress.
Participants also called for the BMU Network to formulate by-laws to guide fishing activities in Lakezone and Lapur wards. They further urged authorities to convene a peace dialogue between fishermen from Turkana and Marsabit counties to address recurring conflicts over fishing grounds in Ileret.
According to the participants, the disputes have previously resulted in the confiscation of fishing equipment in Marsabit County. The training is part of broader efforts to improve fishing safety, strengthen BMU governance and enhance livelihoods among communities living along Lake Turkana.
