The Lake Victoria Aquaculture Association (LVA) has appealed against a High Court decision upholding new charges imposed by the government arguing the move would cripple the aquaculture sector. LVA has moved to the Court of Appeal in an attempt to stop the implementation of the Fisheries Management and Development (Aquaculture) Regulations 2024, which introduced a Ksh 50,000 licensing fee and a 5% ad valorem levy on fish landed by commercial aquaculture operators. The association says if the law is implemented in its current form, it would affect the sector which supports at least 100,000 jobs and the livelihoods of more than 500,000 households. “The proposed licensing fees is unsustainable and could force many out of business,” warned Ochieng’ Mbeo, LVA Chairman. The association wants the Court of Appeal to overturn the judgment delivered on June 29, 2026, by Justice Roselyne Ekirapa Aburili, who dismissed its petition challenging the regulations. In its Memorandum of Appeal, LVA contests several findings made by the High Court, including the decision that it lacked the legal capacity to institute the petition in its own name. LVA further disputes the finding that there was adequate public participation in the formulation of the regulations. The farmers claim the new charges contained in the Sixth Schedule of the regulations were introduced after an earlier consultation proces...
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