The County Government of Kisumu joined the Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu with like minded organization to celebrate Sea Sunday, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church Millimani in Kisumu.
This is an annual event marked every second Sunday in the month of July, with the theme for this year, “Being there when a Storm Hits.”
The event brought on board Ship yard Kisumu, Bandari College, Kenya Ports Authority, Division of Climate Change and Environmental Care, the Cage Farmers and BMU network.
During the mass led by RT. REV, Bishop Peter Makau who is also the Bishop Chair Person of the Commission for Immigrants, Refugees, and Seafarers,the Church recognized, appreciated and rayed for the vital yet challenging work done by Seafarers, Fisher folk, Port workers and their families.
The Church is committed to protect, accompany, speak out and to be present to ensure no one is disturbed when the storm hits.
Speaking during the event, the CECM for Education, Mr. John Awiti who represented the Governor and his counterpart from Agriculture, thanked the Bishop for choosing Kisumu to host the event.
He further outlined some of the programs the Governor has outlined to revamp the Lakefront through partnerships such as aquaculture and transport infrastructure in the lake.
Provision of security at the lake is also key in the Governor’s agenda to ensure the lake is used to it’s full potential in order to improve the livelihood of the people of Kisumu.
On his part, the Chief of Staff and the Coordinator for Partnerships and Resource Mobilization, Mr Aloice Ager underscored the importance of fishing and blue economy right from the time of Jesus on sustaining lives.
He however, pointed out that about 5,000 fishermen lose life every year in Lake Victoria for lack of right vessels.
It’s against that backdrop that the Governor ejected 100million for the Kenya Ship Yard to design a proto type fibre glass boat that would be safe and sustainable.
The event was also marked with a procession to the Ship Yard where the Bishop blessed the state of art boats in readiness for use by the Beach Management Units as an affirmation that the Church is present when the Fisher folk face different storms.
