Ruto promises goodies for Coast region at Mashujaa fete

A mass resettlement of thousands of landless families at the Coast is set to start after the government announced that it had set aside Sh1.5 billion for the exercise.

Speaking during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kwale, President William Ruto said the government will purchase swathes of land from the so-called absentee landlords in the six counties at the Coast to settle the squatters.

This is one of Ruto's major campaign promises particularly made in the Coast region and that which is yet to be fulfilled. The resettlement of squatters is among the goodies Ruto announced for the Coast.

He said the Coast residents will benefit from land allocation and opportunities in the blue economy sector.

On Sunday, the president told Coast governors to meet and discuss how they will facilitate the resettlement programmes that thousands of squatters have been waiting for.

“The government has set aside Sh1.5 billion to buy land from absentee landlords for settlement of squatters in the Coast region,” he said.

President was with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindi, and Kwale governor Fatuma Achani among others.

Ruto said the state was investing Sh2.7 billion in the construction of fish landing sites and markets equipped with cold chain storage facilities across the country, with Sh1.2 billion allocated specifically to the Coast region.

He observed that because of the Indian Ocean, Kwale County and the Coast region as a whole abound with transformative opportunities of an immense magnitude.

Ruto said that the government has procured and distributed 123 fishing boats to coastal communities to increase fish production and facilitate the transition of fisherfolks to deep-water and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) fishing.

“Additionally, we plan to acquire deep-sea fishing vessels for offshore fishing, with a total budget of KSh 600 million allocated for this purpose,” he stated.

He noted that at present the blue economy contributes Sh20 billion to the economy annually and is expected to increase to over Sh80 billion in five years.

He said this transformation will create thousands of jobs and stimulate the regional economy through increased investment in various industries, enhanced export manufacturing, and expanded economic activity.

“Additionally, we are releasing sh1.7 billion in grants to support 612 fishing cooperatives and groups in the region. The Shimoni Port, Kenya’s first dedicated fish port, is now 82 percent complete,” he said.

He added that once finished, the Shimoni fish port will boost the fishing industry by increasing the handling capacity by 50,000 metric tonnes of fish annually, thereby promoting value addition for domestic and export markets.

To promote and enhance aquaculture and mariculture in the country, the president said that the government was investing Sh2.4 billion, including sh1.4 billion allocated specifically for the Coast region, in the development of the National Mariculture Resource and Training Centre (NAMARET) at Shimoni, Kwale County.

“This centre will catalyze the growth of productive and profitable mariculture. It will function as a marine fish seed breeding and multiplication centre, facilitate research and innovation in mariculture, and offer training for fish farmers and students,” he said.