Blue economy, new frontier for growth, job creation, says PS

The government has underscored blue economy as the new frontier for Kenya’s economic transformation, job creation as well as social inclusion.

According to Betsy Muthoni, the Principal Secretary for Blue Economy, the sector encompasses “any activity done within the blue space,” including sports fishing, eco-tourism, and aquaculture. “We have communities empowered to do sports fishing and eco-tourism. The Blue Economy is the new frontier,” she said.

The PS who was speaking during an interview with the government SpokesPerson Isaac Mwaura on Sema Na Spokes, streamed on KBC Channel 1 on Monday evening, spelt out what the Kenya Kwanza government is doing to harness aquatic resources, empowering communities as well as tackling the long standing social injustices like sexual exploitation of women in the fisheries sector.

“We are supporting women in the fisheries sector to have quality working conditions… and we are also working on tackling issues such as sexual exploitation, which has plagued women in this sector for years,” said the PS.

As the country gears up to celebrate Madaraka Day on June 1st at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County, the PS noted that government has developed key policy frameworks and is finalizing master plans for Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana to ensure long-term sustainability and equitable access to marine resources.

She noted that Cage Aquaculture farming contributes to almost Ksh.8.7 Billion of the GDP, but overall GDP contribution of the blue economy for the last financial year was Ksh.37.4 Billion.

Adding that the government has set up Kabonyo a Ksh.1.3 Billion Aquaculture Centre for Excellence which is meant to produce 7 million fingerlings per quarter for aquaculture, cage culture, and restocking of Lake Victoria.

The government is also working with other sectors to see how they can do carbon touch, which is the last mile connectivity for container terminals.

Similarly, to reinforce oversight and sustainability, the Blue Economy department is deploying patrol boats and advanced monitoring systems to safeguard Kenya’s waters the PS revealed.

The artisanal miners are also being organized into cooperatives, and urged to acquire new licensing requirements so as to enforce county governments to curb illegal mining.