The government has brought back the National Maritime Security Committee to enhance security surveillance in Kenya’s blue spaces. Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya says the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) will be empowered to handle more responsibilities in safety and security, as a result, the maritime committee was revived. The committee will be chaired by PS Maritime and Shipping, PS Defence, and PS Interior, while other maritime stakeholders will be members of the committee. ‘We will be able to monitor our exclusive economic zone and we will be able to provide on-time security response on a number of issues that happened in the blue space,’ said CS Mvurya when he inspected the construction of the 18-floor KMA Towers in Mombasa which is near completion. The CS was impressed with the progress of construction of the Sh2B world-class maritime headquarters which he said should be ready by June 30 this year. ‘The project is very key to the maritime sector because the maritime and shipping sector has also to grow in our country and for it to grow, we have to enhance the capacity of our key institutions in maritime so that they can handle new challenges and opportunities in the globe,’ said the CS. The building will have a rescue and emergency Centre to coordinate all rescue activities in the Indian Ocean and it will be equipped with modern equipment. ‘There will be cameras that are linked with vessels in the Indian Ocean so that at least then we can have proper surveillance. I think right now that capacity is still very low so through this particular project, we should be able to enhance the capacity of rescue and surveillance,’ said the CS adding that the project will transform the maritime and shipping sectors. The CS has directed KMA to inspire its capacity for safety both in the Indian Ocean and in lakes because they are many vessels and boats that operate without compliance. ‘Safety in the blue space is not something that is an afterthought. We want to have good plans to make sure shipping activities comply with global requirements,’ he said. The CS disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the Kenya National Shipping Line (KNSL) to enhance the country’s capacity in dry docking and vessel maintenance. The CS promised to transform KMA to handle more responsibilities and opportunities that will come along since 90 per cent of all the international trade happens in the blue space.
Source: Kenya News Agency