KWALE, Kenya – A whopping 80% of the world’s goods are transported by sea, with ports serving a significant role in this sector.
Ports serve traditional maritime sectors like shipping and freight and marine industries like fishing, defence, tourism, and natural resource management, making them essential hubs in the global commerce network.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates that by 2030, the traditional maritime economy—of which these businesses are a part—will have doubled to 3 trillion dollars by “business as usual.”
The concept of “the blue economy,” which places sustainable development at its centre, has redefined the role of the ocean economy in recent years.
According to the World Bank, the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, better livelihoods, and jobs while maintaining the health of ocean ecosystems is known as the “blue economy.”
Against this backdrop, and to significantly enhance fish production, processing, and value addition for domestic and international markets, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) allocated at least Sh 2.6 billion to the ongoing Shimoni Fish Port Project in Kwale County.
What does the ongoing Sh 2.6 billion Shimoni Fish Port entail
Y News understands this project aims to unleash Kenya’s Blue Economy’s full potential.
The Shimoni people, who live near Tanzania on the southeast coast of Kenya, rely primarily on fishing for their daily livelihood.
However, due to challenges with processing and storage, which lead to resource loss and waste, the community has long been limited to subsistence fishing.
James Odongo, a resident engineer for KPA, told Y News in an exclusive interview that the project’s goal is to upgrade the port’s amenities to make it a modern port.
“It entails the construction of a new jetty with a causeway of 135 metres and a jetty head of 75 metres with a capacity of handling between 60 metres and 70 metres vessels. At the shore, we have storage facilities, a fish processing plant, and a fish kill processing plant for the waste,” said Odongo.
There is also a warehouse and a fish landing port for the local fishermen.
“We are at 78% of the project against a projected 98%. Ideally, we should be completing the project in two weeks from now, but due to reasons beyond our control, we may get an extension of time, which we have already applied for. We have evaluated and submitted a plan for consideration,” Odongo added.
How the Shimoni Fish Port will benefit the local Kwale County economy
According to Odongo, the project is expected to be completed in March 2025.
“Upon completion, the project will have employment opportunities for the locals. For example, fishermen will have access to the facility regarding their fish, which will be processed locally.
Odongo added that a fish auction market is under the same project to help the local community.
The engineer disclosed that they employ approximately 60% of the local community, and the expertise and skilled staff who are unavailable from the local community constitute about 40% of the project.
Ali Fadhili, a fisherman from Mkwiro, a village on the eastern side of Wasini Island, told Y News that ports are essential to the long-term growth of this maritime economy through their numerous functions as landlords, operators, regulators, and environmental stewards.
“We believe that upon completion, the Shimoni Fish Port will contribute to the sustainable growth of the maritime economy not only in our region but in Kenya as a whole by fulfilling these functions within the framework of a public-private partnership,” explained Fadhili.
How the BETA Plan targets to grow Kenya’s Blue Economy value chains
The Kenya Kwanza Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) Plan targets to expand the contribution of the Blue Economy value chains to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from Sh 37 billion currently to Sh 80 billion annually by 2026 and thereafter to Sh 150 billion by 2027.
While on a tour of the ongoing project, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said that once operational, the Shimoni Fish Port will create jobs and enhance household incomes, positively impacting the local community.
“Additionally, the government is disbursing capital and operational grants to the fisherfolk to enable them to purchase modern deep-sea fishing boats and gear, ensuring maximum exploitation of the blue economy resources,” explained the second in command.
Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho said the port is one of the strategic projects in “our efforts to leverage the blue economy sector as the new frontier in the country’s economic transformation.”
For her part, Principal Secretary State Department for The Blue Economy and Fisheries, Ministry of Mining Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Betsy Njagi stated that the Shimoni Fish Port aims to harness the potential of the blue economy by enhancing fish production, processing, and value addition for both domestic and export markets.
The port, consisting of a modern 75×30-meter jetty, a 135-meter-long causeway, a fish processing plant, and a cold facility, is projected to handle an annual throughput of 50,000 metric tonnes.
Why the Kenyan government plans to set up more fishing landing sites
The project PS Njagi observed that it is anticipated to boost the local economy by creating employment opportunities and driving economic growth in the region.
“The Shimoni Fish Port is part of a broader initiative to develop several fish landing sites in the coastal region supporting the livelihoods of thousands of households relying on the fishing industry,” the PS explained while on a project tour.
When reached for comment, Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde said the Shimoni Fish Port is a major government project in the region located within the Lunga Lunga sub-county.
“One of the main economic activities of the Kwale people is fishing. There is no doubt that this fish landing port will allow fish to be processed and exported. It will benefit the people of Kwale,” said Orinde.
Meanwhile, Y News has established that ports such as the Shimoni Fish Port can also serve as environmental champions by using innovative technologies and collaborations with business partners and communities to protect and enhance coastal ecosystems mutually beneficial to the economy, environment, and communities.
This will help to support new and emerging activities such as developing resilient coastal infrastructure, aquaculture, and marine technology.