Marine Centre to train students from Kenya and east African countries – Kindiki

DP Kithure Kindiki addressing construction workers of the ongoing marine regional centre and local leaders at Kombani, Kwale County on April 16/DPCS

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said that the Regional Centre for Marine Transport and Port Logistics that is nearing completion will be used to train students from Kenya and other East African countries.

Speaking on Wednesday at Kombani in Kwale County, Kindiki said the centre is at 82 percent completion, is being set up at a cost of Sh607 million.

It will train students from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He said some of the careers that will be built out of the centre include maritime transport, sea faring, port management and logistics, ship making, marine science, marine engineering, coxswains and other specializations that are in high demand globally.

“The Centre is one of the interventions the Government is making to revitalize value chains in the blue economy and empower communities who derive their livelihoods from the maritime ecosystem,” DP noted.

Kindiki noted that the government is also boosting income for thousands of locals depending on the coastal blue economy through construction of modern fish ports and markets, enhancing industry skills and empowerment of beach management units.

He insisted that the billions of shillings are being invested in the sector in a bid to make it more beneficial to the communities relying on the Indian Ocean ecosystem in Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Tana River.

He added that the government has disbursed over Sh3.2 billion through various Beach Management Units and targets empowering over 200, 000 beneficiaries in the five counties.

 A number of fish ports, fish markets and landing sites are also under construction and are set for completion before the end of the year, the DP said.

“We are building modern fish ports complete with jetty and processing factories. In Shimoni, Kwale County, the new port is costing Sh2.6 billion and is almost complete. It will provide many job opportunities to youth and women,” said Kindiki.

He further noted that the five fish landing sites to be completed by September this year at a cost of Sh1 billion will be equipped with cold storage facilities and ice making machines to address post-harvest losses.

Kindiki said the government is also acquiring deep sea fishing boats worth Sh600 million for fisherfolk in the region to venture safely into the deep sea and earn more from their trade.

“They will be able to go deep into the sea for days and come with quality and more profitable fish that will attract better prices,” DP stated.