Tanzanian policemen beat Kenyan fishers, force them to eat raw fish

Fishermen in Vanga, Kwale county, have raised concerns over continued harassment by Tanzanian police.

The officers accuse the fishermen of fishing on the Tanzania side of the Indian Ocean and using illegal gear.

Speaking to KNA, the fishermen said the constant bullying by the Tanzania security officers had become unbearable and they would like the government to intervene and set a clear boundary that would end the dispute.

The Vanga community resides in a small village adjacent to the Kenya-Tanzania border in Kwale county, and their main source of livelihood is fishing and rice farming, which is done on a small-scale basis.

Most women who cannot go to the ocean sell fish. However, the business has challenges since the ocean they fish from is shared with neighbouring Tanzania, which has a bigger part of the water mass than Kenya.

Fishermen and traders have asked the government to intervene and set a boundary at the Indian Ocean in Vanga, claiming that the Tanzanian police force deployed at the sea to guard it is brutal to Kenyan fishermen, who accidentally cross over to look for more fish.

Bwamrii Masha recounted undergoing terrible ordeals when caught by the Tanzanian officers, saying they were sometimes flogged, forced to eat raw fish or given punitive tasks to complete before they are set free.

Senior chief Kama Abdallah of Vanga location said the locality is safe in terms of criminal gangs, explaining that it has been long since they registered any insecurity case.

However, he said human trafficking and illegal trade from neighbouring countries were issues of concern, noting that drugs were also smuggled into the country.