Let’s tap into blue economy’s potential
On Sunday, Mombasa hosted its first ever Mashujaa Day celebrations, which was an eye-opener on the potential of Kenya’s blue economy— and by extension the Coast region.
The event was held at the Mama Ngina Waterfront Park—just next to the ocean—where a discerning eye and introspective mind could not have missed what could be the key to jump-starting Kenya’s dwindling economic fortunes.
It just needs a mind shift by both the policy mandarins and the public to harness the huge potential in the Coast region, whose fortunes either blossoms or dwindles with the tourism sector. With all the arrows of traditional economic sectors—agriculture, manufacturing, construction and tourism—pointing down, the blue economy is a low-hanging fruit that could be just what the doctor ordered for Kenya.
But it needs thinking out of the box by and a deliberate move by the government to tame its penchant for short-term approaches to the country’s socio-economic and political challenges.
Fortunately, the government, too, recognises the dynamism of the sector. But it has to go beyond recognition and blueprints and address the often contrasting policies in various development plans and other sectoral policies and strategies over the years, to align focus on the potential of the blue economy.
For instance, it must tackle the challenges related to environmental sustainability, maritime security and inclusive development. Kenya can leverage on her last year’s successful hosting of the first ever global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference to harness the maritime resources.
This is why the move to develop Special Economic Zones (SEZs) with linkages to harnessing the blue economy faster is laudable. The zones, highly attractive to the global multinationals, come with massive input for jobs, increased foreign earnings, technology adoption and skills transfer.
The expansion of Kilindini harbour— and by extension the new investments in the Port of Mombasa— will double the annual volume of cleared cargo and directly provide jobs to close to 8,000 people.
It is also critical for the private sector to back plans to revive the Kenya National Shipping Lines top secure national interest in the industry. Here, the potential is huge. For example, painting of ships at Mombasa and Kisumu ports alone promises jobs for hundreds of youth besides spurring the growth of the logistics and fishing sector.
