Nairobi: The government in collaboration with stakeholders is developing a comprehensive national Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) to unlock abundant opportunities found in ocean spaces. The spatial plan is a national strategy to manage and utilize marine and coastal resources by balancing ecological, social, and economic objectives. It is a 20-year strategic framework approved by the Cabinet and is designed to guide the sustainable and integrated use of ocean space, ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental conservation, and social equity.
According to Kenya News Agency, maritime stakeholders contend that MSP is indispensable to sustainably grow the blue economy sector and preserve the fragile marine ecosystem. The plan offers a science-based framework for optimizing ocean resources, protecting biodiversity, and enhancing coastal livelihoods. John Ntabo, Deputy Director, State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, says MSP will lead to improved environmental management by protecting ecosystem
s to enhance climate resilience, foster sustainable economic growth, and the blue economy.
The blue economy encompasses a range of marine-related sectors that contribute to economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation while ensuring the health of marine ecosystems. These sectors include fisheries, maritime biotechnology, aquaculture, tourism, and marine transport and logistics. Ntabo emphasized that MSP aligns with Vision 2030 by providing a strategic framework for managing marine resources, promoting the sustainable blue economy, and guiding development in a coordinated way.
MSP supports Vision 2030 objectives by providing a spatial plan for both coastal and offshore development, ensuring that activities like fishing, tourism, and energy exploration are conducted in an organized and sustainable manner while balancing economic growth with conservation and climate resilience. Ntabo said MSP will support the blue economy, which he termed as the ‘next frontier of development’, enhance economic devel
opment, create livelihoods, and ensure food and nutrition security.
The Deputy Director was speaking during a crucial community engagement session in Kwale County to advance MSP, with the forum seeking to raise awareness, build capacity for meaningful participation, and gather local perspectives on resource use, conservation, and development priorities. He highlighted that MSP will promote integrated governance and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources, support coordinated multisectoral planning and infrastructure development, facilitate collaboration among government agencies, and establish guidelines, standards, and regulations for conservation and sustainable utilization of marine resources.
The plan covers Kenya’s 640 km coastline, stretching from Kiunga in the north (near the Somali border) to Vanga in the south (near the Tanzanian border). Ntabo emphasized that MSP aims to provide legal certainty for investments, prevent resource conflicts, and protect ecosystems by ensuring the long-term su
stainability of marine environments through integrated planning. He noted that Kenya’s marine resources are of great economic, social, and environmental importance.
Ntabo stated the marine spatial plan is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs and is developed with support from the World Bank through the Sh10 billion Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-economic Development (KEMFSED) Project. The KEMFSED project is implemented by the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries with World Bank support and is scheduled for 2020-2025. The fishery infrastructure project targets the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, and Lamu to enable fisher folks to increase catches and improve livelihood activities in coastal communities.
Significant challenges exist in managing ocean resources sustainably, including pressures from overfishing, uncontrolled coastal developments, global warming, acidification, and pollution. The MSP forum seeks to identify solutions towards cross-se
ctoral actions to conserve the ocean and use its resources sustainably. Ntabo indicated that MSP is currently at the stakeholders and public consultation stages before proceeding to a draft document in March 2026.
Elizabeth Mulwa, Deputy Director of Fisheries at the Kenya Fisheries Service, said the benefits of the MSP include reducing conflicts between users and balancing economic, social, and environmental objectives through clear zoning for long-term strategies. She emphasized that the MSP is an ecosystem-based approach that will guide how the ocean is sustainably used and protected for posterity. Mulwa noted that the MSP is part of a broader strategy to develop a sustainable blue economy, serving as a ‘policy roadmap’ designed to prioritize sustainable development within Kenya’s maritime domain.
Kwale County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Agriculture and Fisheries, Roman Sherah, praised the marine spatial planning efforts, particularly its focus on integrating land use and sea planning and develop
ing a sustainable blue economy. Sherah highlighted that the spatial plan will lead to the establishment of new marine conservation areas for sustainable coastal development. Kwale County aims to adopt and implement the marine spatial plan as a key tool for sustainable ocean governance.
Juma Mwabori, Mwaembe Beach Management Unit chairman in Msambweni sub-county of Kwale, welcomed the national MSP as it provides a framework to resolve conflicts over marine resources and promote sustainable use of ocean spaces. Mwabori, who comes from a long line of fishermen, appreciated the government’s commitment to the sustainable exploitation of the blue economy and fisheries sector, viewing the MSP as a shared vision by all stakeholders to manage marine resources for posterity. He expressed that the MSP will bring legal certainty for investments and community welfare improvements.
