After TV47 highlighted the plight of three Kenyan fishermen who had been arrested and detained in Madagascar for nearly four months, the men were finally released and returned home.

Monday marked a joyful reunion at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where they were greeted by family members and officials from the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs.

It has been a rough four months for the families of three fishermen arrested in July in foreign waters of Madagascar over what authorities say was illegal fishing.

At the airport to receive them too, were the officials from the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, led by the director’s general from the Kenya Fisheries Services Daniel Mungai and the Kenya Maritime Authority Eng. Julius Koech

The three fishermen, Mbarak Awadh Mbarak, Mohamed Bakari, and Karisa Gona Nguma, were arrested in July 2024 for allegedly engaging in illegal fishing in Madagascar’s waters. Their families endured a difficult four months, anxiously awaiting their release.

At JKIA, officials from the Kenya Fisheries Service and the Kenya Maritime Authority were also present to welcome the fishermen home. However, the men are now pleading with government agencies to respond more swiftly to urgent issues affecting Kenyans working at sea.

The fishermen described their experience as one of hardship, regularly going hungry and living in unspeakable conditions. They expressed their hope and reliance on Kenyan authorities to resolve the matter during their detention.

Blue Economy CS Hassan Joho had previously issued warnings to ministry agencies that were failing in their duties. He engaged in efforts to secure the fishermen’s release, taking a multi-ministry approach to bring them home as quickly as possible.

Despite the intervention, the families of the fishermen are now seeking compensation and psychosocial support for the ordeal they endured. The fishermen also emphasized the importance of proper licensing for those working in the fishing industry, stating that their arrest could have been avoided if they had the required documentation.

The government is urging owners of vessels operating within and beyond Kenyan waters to register their vessels and crew members to prevent future incidents that could place Kenyan citizens at risk.

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