Project Assesment

The Principal Secretary for the State Department for the Blue Economy and Fisheries, Madam Betsy Njagi, visited Liwatoni Fisheries Complex in Mombasa to asses ongoing projects by the State Department. Among other activities, the PS:

• -Assessed ongoing infrastructure projects at the complex including the fishing port, the tuna and tuna-like species processing plant and cold stores as well as the proposed Ultra-Modern Tuna Fish Hub. These interventions are expected to create direct employment for at least 800 Kenyans and also increase revenue collected by the Government.
• - Presided over the issuing of certificates to the youth trained under the Fishing Crew Training Programme. The programme targets to build the capacity of at least 5000 youths in industrial fishing to take advantage of the growing industrial fishing in Kenya and also exploit employment opportunities in the fishing sector globally. Currently, 641 youths have been trained. The PS also flagged off 20 youths who are going for the deep-sea practical training phase of the same programme.
• - Visited the Patrol Vessel (PV) Doria which completed an offshore patrol mission. The mission was jointly coordinated by the Kenya Fisheries Service and the Kenya Coast Guard. The PS commended the efforts in  the fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, a global problem that threatens ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. The PS pledged more support in the fight against IUU by enhancing the capacity for fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) in the marine sub-sector.  

The PS was accompanied by Hon. Kangogo Bowen (Chairman - Blue Economy and Irrigation Parliamentary Committee). In attendance were technical officers from the State Department led by Madam Lucy Obungu (Fisheries Secretary), Hon. John Msafari (Chairman, KFIC Board), Dr. Mikah Nyaberi (Ag. CEO, KFIC), Prof. James Njiru (DG - KMFRI), Ms. Mwaka Barabara (DG Representative - KeFS) and Col. George Shiundu (DG Representative - KCGS) among other officers.