Three new fishing groups in Lapur Ward have joined a governance training targeting newly elected officials of 14 Beach Management Units (BMUs) in Lowareng’ak, Turkana North.
The new groups—Merikuka, Loyoro and Olegech—are from Lapur Ward and join fishing communities from Kerio, Kangatotha, Kalokol, Kataboi and Lakezone wards, where fishing is a major source of livelihood along Lake Turkana.
Lapur Ward was traditionally distant from the lake, with residents relying mainly on pastoralism. However, the back flow of Lake Turkana waters has transformed parts of the ward into a new fishing zone, creating opportunities for residents to diversify their livelihoods.
The three-day training, supported by the SPREAD Project and implemented by DanChurchAid and Turkana Pastoralists Development Organization (TUPADO), brought together 42 participants.
The participants were trained in water and boat safety, emergency preparedness, record-keeping, financial management and post-harvest fish handling.
Olegech Group Chairperson Lonok Lokai Korikan said the training was his first formal exposure to fishing practices.
“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,” said Korikan.
He appealed to the Fisheries Department and TUPADO to provide fishing gear to enable the new groups to put the skills acquired during the training into practice.
“With the fishing gear, we will strike a balance between pastoralism and fishing to enhance livelihoods in our areas,” he added.
Sabina Nangiro, Treasurer of Lowareng’ak BMU, called on the county government and development partners to facilitate exchange visits with established BMUs outside Turkana County.
“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,” said Nangiro.
Chief Officer for Fisheries and Aquaculture Peter Ikaru commended the partnership between the county government and TUPADO, saying it had contributed to improving the livelihoods of fisher folk in Turkana.
Ikaru said the department had set aside KSh10 million in the 2026/2027 financial year to purchase fishing gear for distribution to fisher folk along Lake Turkana.
“We want to commercialize fishing to enable our fisher folk to earn income and sustain themselves,” he said.
Ikaru also cautioned fisher folk and pastoralists over the expected El Niño rains, which could disrupt activities on the lake and affect livestock owners.
TUPADO official Benson Elamach said the training was designed to equip BMU officials with technical skills needed to effectively manage the units.
He expressed confidence that the officials would apply the skills gained to improve the management and operations of their respective BMUs.
Elamach said the new BMU expected to be formed from the three fishing groups in Lapur Ward would receive support to formalize its operations.
“The BMU to be formed from the groups in Lapur Ward, will be supported with boats, engines and fishing nets,” said Elamach.
He added that Turkana County and TUPADO would monitor existing BMUs to assess their functionality and progress.
Participants also recommended that the BMU Network develop by-laws to guide the operations of BMUs in Lakezone and Lapur wards.
They further called for a peace dialogue between Turkana and Marsabit fishermen to address conflicts over fishing grounds in Ileret, saying the disputes had resulted in fishing gear being confiscated in Marsabit County.
The training was facilitated by officials from the Kenya Fisheries Service and the Turkana County Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
