BY CECE SIAGO
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called for greater government support for fishing communities, saying coastal residents should be recognised for their contribution to the economy.
Speaking in Kwale during a development tour, Kindiki said fishermen deserved the same support extended to farmers, as the government invests in modern infrastructure to improve livelihoods.
“Just like farmers, we want fishermen to be helped too. Coast residents are not lazy, they are fishermen,” he said.
The Deputy President spoke after inspecting the Sh255 million Mwaepe Fish Landing Site in Kinondo Ward, Msambweni Sub-County.
The facility, which is complete but yet to begin operations, is expected to improve fish handling, preservation and marketing while providing additional business opportunities for the local community.
It is among the fisheries investments under the World Bank-supported Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) project.
The development includes a modern fish banda, an ice-making plant, refrigeration and cold storage facilities, fish handling areas, retail stalls, restaurant space and facilities for the Beach Management Unit (BMU).The development includes a modern fish banda, an ice-making plant, refrigeration and cold storage facilities, fish handling areas, retail stalls, restaurant space and facilities for the Beach Management Unit (BMU).
The ice plant is designed to produce three tonnes of ice daily, while the cold storage facilities will help preserve fish and reduce post-harvest losses.
Unlike conventional fish landing facilities, Mwaepe also incorporates commercial property, including retail spaces expected to provide business opportunities for traders and other entrepreneurs.
Kindiki commended Youth Affairs, Sports and Creative Economy Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya for initiating the project in 2022 when he was the Cabinet Secretary for Blue Economy.
The Deputy President said the government was also investing in fishing vessels to expand the capacity of local fishermen.
He said 70 small fishing boats had been distributed in Kwale as part of a national programme under which 272 boats worth Sh800 million had been provided.
The government was also in the process of purchasing deep-sea fishing vessels to enable Kenyan fishermen to venture into high-seas fishing and remain at sea for several days, he said.
During the tour, Kindiki also inspected the White House Affordable Housing Project and visited the Diani Modern Market. He commissioned the Sh1.8 billion Kiruku Last Mile Electricity Supply Project in Lunga Lunga, targeting 15,300 households, and flagged off the Darigube electrification project.
On Wednesday, he presided over the issuance of 20,000 title deeds to residents of Kalalani in Kinango Constituency among other programs in Kilifi.
He urged residents to support the government, saying continued cooperation would help accelerate development projects and address historical challenges facing the Coast region.
Kwale leaders led by Governor Fatuma Achani urged residents to support the government as this would ensure better development in future.