By John Ondieki, Siaya County
I am John Ondieki, a son of Siaya County, born and raised in the heart of the lake region. For years, I’ve watched our communities struggle to make ends meet, relying on the waters of Lake Victoria and the Indian Ocean for survival. The fisheries sector, which should have been our lifeline, was neglected for decades. Politicians made promises, but nothing ever changed. That was until I met Mama Betsy—Permanent Secretary Betsy Muthoni—a leader who has redefined what it means to serve the people.
I work with an NGO called Inuka Foundation, managing projects and working closely with communities across the lake and coastal regions. For 20 years, I’ve witnessed the struggles of fishermen, fishmongers, and farmers who lose their catch to poor storage facilities, lack of market access, and exploitation by middlemen. The blue economy and fisheries sector was always an afterthought in national development plans—until Betsy Muthoni stepped in.
The Day I Met Mama Betsy
I first met PS Betsy Muthoni during one of her tours in the lake region. I was skeptical at first. Over the years, I’ve seen many government officials come and go, making grand promises that never materialized. But Betsy was different. From the moment she stepped off the boat, she exuded a rare combination of authority and humility. She didn’t just shake hands and give speeches; she sat with the fishermen, listened to their stories, and asked tough questions.
“The Kenya Kwanza government is about putting money in the pockets of the communities,” she told us during one of her meetings. “Every project we undertake must have a direct impact on the people.”
A Leader Who Walks the Talk
In my 20 years working in this sector, I’ve never seen a Permanent Secretary who spends 75% of their time on the ground. Betsy Muthoni is always in the lake and coastal regions, meeting with communities, NGOs, and private sector players. She doesn’t just sit in Nairobi and issue directives; she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work.
One of her most impactful initiatives was organizing donor meetings to help NGOs like ours secure funding for community projects. She didn’t just stop at facilitating these meetings; she followed up to ensure the projects were implemented effectively. Her approach is ground-up, not top-down. She believes in empowering communities to be the drivers of their own development.
Tackling the Cartels
I’ve heard whispers that some of her decisions are unpopular in certain circles. And honestly, I’m not surprised. The fisheries sector has long been plagued by deep-rooted cartels that exploit fishermen and stifle growth. Betsy Muthoni has taken them head-on, and that’s no easy feat.
For years, our fishermen have suffered losses because they couldn’t store or transport their catch properly. Betsy put her foot down and made sure this project became a reality. It’s a game-changer for our region, and the communities are already feeling the impact.
The Voice of the People
I’ve traversed communities from Lamu to Kwale, and everywhere I go, people praise Betsy Muthoni’s leadership. They call her Mama Betsy—a term of endearment that speaks volumes about how much she’s loved and respected. She’s not just a government official; she’s one of us.
In Lamu, I met a group of women fishmongers who told me how Betsy’s initiatives have transformed their lives. “For the first time, we have a leader who listens to us and fights for us, we have been given bots, we have landing sites and many more,” one of them said. In Kwale, fishermen spoke of how her efforts to streamline the sector have reduced exploitation and increased their earnings.
Why Betsy Muthoni Stands Out
The blue economy and fisheries sector needed a strong leader—someone with the courage to make unpopular but impactful decisions. Betsy Muthoni is that leader. I’ll be honest—I’m not a supporter of President Ruto. But on this one, I must admit, he got it right. Betsy Muthoni is the kind of leader we’ve been waiting for—a leader who puts the people first.
As I write this, I can’t help but feel hopeful for the future. For the first time in decades, I see a brighter future for the fishermen, fishmongers, and farmers of the lake and coastal regions. And for that, we have Mama Betsy to thank.
This is my personal story, and I have no relationship with her office. But as someone who has worked in this sector for 20 years, I can confidently say, we now have some direction in the sector.
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