Dar es Salaam — The government has begun efforts to free 109 Tanzanians who were arrested in Kenya last weekend in connection to illegal fishing.
The fishermen, according to reports from Kenya, were arrested in Shimoni, a port village near border of the two countries.
Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Livestock development Abdallah Ulega told The Citizen on Thursday that efforts are underway to have the issue resolved.
“We have consulted the ministry of foreign affairs and the police force to see how to handle the matter. They were arrested in accordance to the laws of Kenya,” he said.
“When it comes to legal framework on fishing activities, each country has its own laws. The government is aware of it,” he added.
Kenyan Business Daily newspaper reported that the Tanzanian were remained after they failed to raise a cash bail of Ksh20,000 (about Sh450,000).
But Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani appealed for the fishermen’s release, urging Deputy President William Ruto to intervene to avoid a diplomatic row between the two countries.
“Those who were arrested are our brothers and we share a lot in common because most of the people living in Shimoni depend on fishing for their livelihood,” he said.
