Three Kenyans who spent over four months in a Madagascar jail are finally back home, thanks to the efforts of the Blue Economy Ministry, the Kenya Maritime Agency, and various human rights organisations. The fishermen were arrested for operating in foreign waters without the necessary documentation.
The three men, originally from the Kenyan coast, recounted the harrowing ordeal they faced while incarcerated, which included a lack of food and basic necessities far from home.
The Kenyan government is now seeking improved measures to ensure that Kenyan fishermen operate within national waters and possess the proper documentation.
According to Daniel Mungai, Director of the Kenya Fisheries Service, the three were arrested in foreign waters without the required permits, complicating their release.
“It required the intervention of the Cabinet Secretary for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Ali Hassan John, to secure their release,” he stated.
The case was in court, which delayed the Kenyan government’s ability to intervene, as noted by Mr Julius Koech, Acting Director General of the Kenya Maritime Agency.
The father of one of the fishermen expressed gratitude to Cabinet Secretary Hassan John for his efforts in securing the freedom of the three men.