The Kenyan government has launched the implementation of a series of projects worth 10 billion shillings across five counties in a bid to boost the country’s blue economy agenda.
Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya says the projects funded by the world bank have many components including alternative livelihoods for fishermen where groups are recognized and given grants to do projects away from fisheries.
The Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy had earlier in the year mapped out over 400 Beach Management Units across the country to be converted to cooperatives by June this year to enable fisherfolk access to financial credit.
This with establishing fish landing sites at designated areas and equipping key infrastructure including storage cold rooms, value addition units and market linkages for fisheries resources
The Mining and Blue Economy ministry says the projects funded by the world bank were given in form of grants under the Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio Economic Development Project (KEMFSED).
Away from the first phase of funds disbursement there still remains 2.9 billion shillings that shall be distributed in the region with groups advised to apply for the grants that have been earmarked for the five counties in the Coast.
Some of the beneficiaries of the grants from Mkondoni area in Jilore ward indicated that the project had improved their livelihoods.
The government hopes to further partner with development partners to facilitate the fisheries sector and related activities in Kenya’s water bodies.
Source: Nam News Network (NNN)