Mungatana raises alarm over shortage of marine experts

By Philip Mwakio

Mombasa, Kenya: The Port of Mombasa is facing a severe shortage of marine pilots and engineers, Kenya Ports Authority Chairman Danson Mungatana has disclosed.

Mr Mungatana said despite the port having undergone tremendous upgrade, it still faces a shortage of skills in the area of marine pilotage.

“Marine pilotage and marine engineering are not manned to required capacities. In fact, we might even face bigger challenges if and when the much larger new Port of Lamu is completed,” Mungatana said.

The chairman was speaking yesterday when he officiated the unveiling of the inaugural Teacher of the Month Award organised by Three C Consultancy at a Mombasa hotel. He appealed to parents and learning institutions to encourage students to take up marine studies.

“With the coming up of Lamu Port, we shall require more marine pilots, engineers, divers, technicians, surveyors among others. I also challenge universities to introduce maritime courses in their curriculum to enable our children to study locally,” he said.

On the teacher award project, Mungatana appealed to corporate firms to join hands and support the venture.

“If more corporate firms can come on board and offer support then its sustainability will be ensured and upheld for the good of posterity,” he said.

So far Pelly Properties, Sheikh Uniforms, Commission for Human Rights, Starad International Limited, Bliss Resort, Jasusi, Empires of the Market and Sheki FM have joined as initial supporters.

The initiative, which will see best teachers nominated by both parents and pupils, will cover all the six counties in Coast region.

“With adequate support, we hope to roll it out to the rest of the country and make it a nationwide event where the winner in both primary and secondary schools categories can win a house,” Francis Wangalibo of Three C Consultancy said.