President William Ruto has issued a firm warning following fresh reports of Kenyan fishermen being arrested and harassed by Ugandan security officers at Migingo Island in Lake Victoria, reigniting a long-running sovereignty and livelihoods dispute in the region.
Speaking on Wednesday, December 17, at Piny Luo Cultural Festival, President Ruto declared unequivocally that Migingo Island is Kenyan territory and pledged that his administration would deploy all lawful measures to protect citizens from intimidation by foreign security agencies.
“Migingo is part of Kenya, and we will ensure, through all available means, including diplomacy and other lawful measures, that our citizens are not frustrated or harassed by officers from other countries,” Ruto said.
Migingo Island, a tiny but economically strategic outcrop in Lake Victoria, has for years been a flashpoint between Kenya and Uganda, largely due to its rich fishing grounds. Arrests, fines, and allegations of mistreatment of Kenyan fishermen have repeatedly strained relations, despite periodic bilateral agreements meant to calm tensions.
Ruto’s remarks signal a tougher posture, aimed at reassuring fishing communities in western Kenya who depend on Lake Victoria for survival and have long complained of harassment and loss of livelihoods.
The Migingo statement comes weeks after the President moved to quash speculation that Uganda was preparing to take drastic measures to secure access to the Indian Ocean.
Addressing the issue on Sunday, November 23, Ruto said media reports had distorted remarks attributed to Ugandan leadership, creating unnecessary alarm.
“People in the journalism space tried to create an impression that Uganda had said something to the effect that they need to access the sea by all means,” he said.
“Let me assure the naysayers that Uganda and Kenya are brothers and sisters, and we do not have time for negative engagement.”
Ruto emphasized that Uganda’s access to the sea through Kenya remains guaranteed, pointing to major cross-border infrastructure projects as proof of Nairobi’s commitment to regional integration.
“Uganda is assured of the access to the sea through Kenya. That is why we are extending the pipeline, the road, and the railway—because we believe this region needs to move as one,” he noted.
The President’s comments underline Kenya’s preference for diplomacy and economic cooperation, even as it asserts sovereignty and protects its citizens.
However, underlying anxieties persist. In a radio interview at the Mbale State Lodge on Sunday, November 8, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned that future conflicts within the East African Community could erupt over access to the Indian Ocean.
Museveni argued that landlocked countries are unfairly disadvantaged and suggested that denying them sea access could provoke instability.
“How do I export my products?… That ocean belongs to me; I am entitled to that ocean. In the future, we are going to have wars,” Museveni said.
As Kenya and Uganda navigate a delicate balance between cooperation and national interest, Migingo Island once again stands at the center of a broader regional debate—one that blends sovereignty, economic survival, and East African unity.
For President Ruto, the message is clear: while Kenya remains committed to peaceful coexistence and regional integration, the safety and dignity of its citizens—especially vulnerable fishing communities—are non-negotiable.
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