President William Ruto has said the government is prioritising the blue economy as a key frontier for economic growth.
During the marking of 62nd Madaraka Day in Homa Bay County, President Ruto said through capture and culture fisheries, the sector has the potential to generate Ksh 400 billion to the economy compared to the current Ksh 36 billion which is equivalent to 0.6pc of the economy.
“When we speak of unutilised opportunities and untapped potential in the Blue Economy, Homa Bay, in many ways, mirrors the promise of Kenya itself. Kenya has the capacity to become a maritime powerhouse. It is time to act, time to do something bold, ambitious, and transformative with this opportunity,” said President Ruto.
According to the President, Blue Economy is a central pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
Among projects currently being undertaken by the government in the sector include Kabonyo Fisheries and Aquaculture Service and Training Centre of Excellence in Nyando, Kisumu County.
The project is poised to produce 7 million fingerlings quarterly to restock Lake Victoria and drive research, training, and innovation.
Additionally, the facility will house a Nile Perch Innovation Centre, an Aquaculture Resource Centre, and the Kenya Fishing School, positioning Kenya as a regional aquaculture leader.
Similarly, the Sagana Aquaculture Centre is being modernised to serve as a national breeding hub for warm-water species like Nile tilapia and African catfish.
“These initiatives will boost aquaculture productivity, improve nutrition, and expand livelihoods, aligning with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), to expand fish farming into arid and semi-arid regions,” he added.
Other blue economy projects currently being implemented include the National Mariculture Research and Training Centre (NAMARET) in Shimoni, under the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI).
The centre is responsible for cultivating marine species like milkfish, mud crabs, seaweed, oysters, and prawns and is expected to create jobs and improve livelihoods of least 200,000 people across five coastal counties.
“The development of the Liwatoni and Shimoni Fishing Ports will further expand deep-sea fishing capacity to 24 vessels, fully unlocking our marine potential. We have completed seven modern fish landing sites on the Indian Ocean coast and three on the shores of Lake Victoria,” he stated.
The government is currently constructing additional five landing sites in the coastal counties of Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, and Lamu, at a cost of Ksh 1 billion, due for completion by September.
Nine new landing sites are also planned around Lake Victoria in Kisumu, Busia, Siaya, Migori, and Homa Bay, with a budget of KSh1.5 billion.
The government is also targeting to strengthen the fisheries value chain, by establishing modern fish markets with cold storage and hygiene facilities.
Other markets are currently being constructed in Likoni, Malindi, and Kibuyuni at the coast and Kalokol and Lowarengak, alongside fully equipped landing sites in Kalokol in Turkana County and Loiyangalani.
Source - https://www.kbc.co.ke
