The Sh2.6 billion Shimoni Fish Port project in Kwale will be complete by March this year, the government has said. The project is set to offer hope to fisher folk in the coastal counties.
Speaking on Tuesday in Kwale, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the project is key to plans to increase earnings from the blue economy to Sh150 billion in three years.
Kindiki said Kenya earns Sh37 billion from its 142, 400 Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and this will increase to Sh80 billion by the end of next year.
The DP said the government was also empowering fisher folk to go to deep seas.
“President William Ruto has directed that this facility be ready by March. My visit here is to hasten the process of the ongoing works to meet the president’s demand,” Kindiki said.
The Sh2.6 billion port will have a modern jetty, a fish landing site, a warehouse, a processing plant, cold storage and ice-making facilities, a fish meal plant, and various support amenities.
The government has also started repossessing the fish landing sites that had bee grabbed across the coastal region, and expansion of the Old Port in Mombasa’s Kibokoni area.
It is expected to increase the volume of fish from the Indian Ocean and reduce post-harvest losses, especially for the thousands of small-scale fisher folks along the coast region.
The DP said the government had also started to give the fisher folks grants to purchase modern deep-sea fishing boats and other fishing gear, ahead of the completion of the port.
‘’The government is committed to empowering the people of Kenya by boosting their livelihoods, creating jobs, and revitalising critical value chains that contribute to wealth creation,” he said.
Kindiki, accompanied by Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, directed the contractor to complete the project in time.
Joho assured the DP that the directives given by the head of state would be implemented to meet the deadline.
Kwale Governor Ms Fatuma Achani commended the DP’s visit and directives to ensure the project is on course and completed on time.
The project would be a game changer in the blue economy, and the job would create jobs for the youth, women, and men of Kwale.
During the visit, attendees included Ms. Betsy Njagi, Principal Secretary for Fisheries; Engineer John Tanui, ICT Principal Secretary; Captain William Ruto, Managing Director of Kenya Ports Authority; Feisal Bader from Msambweni; and Mr. Mangale Chiforomodo from Lunga Lunga.
The new seaport to boost the fishing sector, will feature a multi-purpose berth, a modern jetty, a warehouse, a fish market, cold storage facilities, reefer stations, and ice-making plants.
Analysts state that these enhancements will streamline the supply chain, allowing for efficient processing and storage of up to 50,000 metric tonnes of fish annually, an equivalent of around 1,000 lorry loads, poised for local and international markets.
KPA’s role in transforming Shimoni into a regional fishing hub aligns with broader government goals to modernize port facilities and encourage sustainable industry practices.
For Shimoni, a town rich in history and heritage and traditionally dependent on small-scale fishing, the project, the biggest fishing harbour constructed in that region, offers hope for long-term economic stability.
The Shimoni fish port is expected to handle an annual throughput of 50,000 metric tons of fish by the end of 2025 contributing to the sustainable development of Kenya’s blue economy.
