The government will unlock the potential of the blue economy at the coast through infrastructure development among other programmes.
President William Samoei Ruto said the government will make investments that will create jobs for those at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
Fishermen will be equipped, provided with skills and technology to enable them venture into deep sea fishing.
“In order to align the undeniable opportunities in the Blue Economy, we must invest the capital available where it will create the most jobs: at the bottom of the pyramid,” he said.
The President said the government has demonstrated its commitments on the blue economy agenda by establishing an exclusive ministry dedicated to its affairs.
Illegal and unregulated fishing, which is destroying marine ecosystems in the country, will be stopped.
He spoke during the launch of Community Grants at Liwatoni Fisheries Complex, Mombasa County.
During the event, Sh321 million was given to 142 community groups to benefit 20,000 people in the five participating counties, Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, and Lamu.
Present were Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Cabinet Secretaries Salim Mvurya, Moses Kuria, Florence Bore, Governor Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi), Dhadho Godhana (Tana River), Issa Timamy (Lamu), and Christine Kilalo (DG Taita Taveta)
Mr Gachagua said the government will deliver on its pledges especially uplifting those at the lower echelons of the economic pyramid.
Ruto reiterates “Kenya ‘must’ be exporting rather than importing food”
President William Ruto has said Kenya should be exporting rather than importing food.
He said it is time bold, ambitious and progressive policy decisions were pursued to make the country produce more.
The President insisted that Kenya has the potential to feed itself and sell the surplus to other countries.
“We must turn agriculture into a commercial economic activity,” he said.
The President explained that the Government was consolidating main trading blocs in Africa “so that we can give value to our farmers”.
“We should allow our farmers to earn more from their sweat by exploiting new and lucrative markets for them,” he noted.
He made the remarks on Thursday at State House in Nairobi during a consultative meeting with Governors, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry and Development Partners.
The meeting focussed on the promotion of trade, strengthening of market linkages, and the establishment of aggregation centres and industrial parks in counties.
“We have agreed to work together to promote investment and trade so as to stimulate our country’s economic growth.”
The President insisted that Kenya’s products are premium and much sought-after in the world.
He added that land in regions such as Turkana, Mandera, Wajir, among other arid areas should not be lying idle.
“Commercial irrigation will turn these regions into our food baskets. Water harvesting will, therefore, form the main part of our country’s transformation plans.”
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