Omena traders win court battle to dry their fish on Nyagina beach

The traders dealing in silver cyprinid, a fish variety known in Dholuo as omena, have been living in fear of eviction from the land where they operate at Nyagina beach by the Kenya Coast Guard Service.

The traders have been using a piece of land registered at the shore of Lake Victoria for sun drying Omena for many years.

However, on January 21 2026, the Kenya Coast Guard Service and the Deputy County Commissioner of Mbita Sub-county gave them a verbal notice to vacate the land by close of business on January 27.

Nyagina BMU Chairman Joseph Kaseu filed a case at Mbita Magistrate Court and sued the Attorney General, Deputy County Commissioner for Mbita Sub-county and Austine Kikuvi, the Inspector in charge of the Kenya Coast Guard Service (Mbita base) as the first, second and third respondents respectively.

Through his lawyer Phenny Odhiambo, Kaseu argued that the eviction is unlawful since Nyagina beach has been in possession of a portion of the disputed land which is registered in the name of Suba County Council and is specifically reserved for Nyagina Beach.

Mbita Principal Magistrate Martha Agutu issued a temporary order restraining the Kenya Coast Guard Service from evicting the fishermen and traders from the disputed land until the case is heard and concluded.