Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured coastal residents of the government's commitment to invest in the fishing sector.
This is aimed at helping the locals to accrue more benefits from the blue economy.
Gachagua said their focus will be on improving the economy of the coastal region that relies on fishing so residents draw more earnings from it.
He spoke on Wednesday when he launched fishing vessels and patrol boats in Kwale and Mombasa counties respectively.
He said in the appointment of Blue Economy CS Salim Mvurya, the state showed its interest in developing the sector.
"The Blue Economy and Fisheries sector is an important enabler of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. The sector presents opportunities for jobs and wealth, food security and absorption of carbon from the marine eco-system – which is key to tackling climate change," he said.
The DP affirmed that they will continue to direct more resources to the region saying the Kenya Kwanza administration will ensure the fishing sector becomes more lucrative.
"The President and I will be coming here to launch development projects and ensure they are implemented for the benefit of the people in this region," he added while presiding over the launch of patrol boats at Liwatoni Fisheries in Mvita, Mombasa.
Gachagua lauded the partnership with the Japanese government that has enabled the acquisition of the boats.
He said such will help accelerate development in the coastal region.
"We realise the importance of expanding the scope of this partnership in the Blue Economy, beyond the monitoring and surveillance by injecting more resources," he said.
"This will accelerate development in the sector, which is under-utilised or over-utilised in some aspects."
Speaking during the launching of eight fishing boats in Shimoni, Kwale County, Gachagua said the potential in the fishing sector was immense.
"Our focus will be development in the region because that is what our government is interested in," he reiterated.
Gachagua also said the government will intensify the crackdown on drug peddlers saying they were destroying the lives of young people in the region.
He said he will soon call a meeting bringing together all the leaders in the region to come up with a long-lasting solution to the menace.
"We will not spare anyone involved in selling drugs because it is wrong to enrich yourself as you destroy the lives of our young people," he said.
Present was CS Mvurya who said the focus was on ensuring that the blue economy blossoms and more people benefit from it.
"We are grateful for the support the government is giving to the blue economy. We will ensure the coxswains without formal training do so," he said.