State pushes for local manufacture of life jackets

The project comes at a time when the government through the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) is constructing a second major maritime search and rescue centre in Kisumu to address safety challenges on Lake Victoria.  

A total of Sh3.4 billion will be used to construct the main SAR centre and other small sites on the shores of that lake.

Through the life jackets programme, KMA is expected to implement the Government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the policy on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and promote the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1,4,5,8,10,13,16 and 17.

 “The country is using much required forex to import life jackets and other life-saving appliances yet tailoring is the basic skill required to manufacture lifejackets,” KMA said in a statement.

The project is being implemented in four phases with Phase one focusing on vocational skills training and prototype production through an already established collaboration framework with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA).

In the partnership, KMA is sponsoring 500 youth and women to undertake vocational skills training and NITA certification in tailoring, embroidery and garment design to empower the beneficiaries to make lifejackets. 

The project commenced with a selection of youth and women from counties of Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Mombasa and Turkana counties.

The second phase of the project will consist of an industrial attachment of the beneficiaries of the project which will be coordinated by NITA followed by the third phase which involves the local manufacture of lifejackets.

“During phase three of Project Elea, KMA will require the trainee beneficiaries from each county to form Saccos through which KMA will assist in building up capacity to manufacture quality standard life jackets and oversee the manufacturing standards,” the statement continued.

The fourth phase will involve marketing and supply of life jackets where the maritime agency will assist beneficiary Saccos in publicising and supplying the product within the country and the East Africa region.

Beneficiaries of the project must have a minimum of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade ‘D’, prior learning and experience in tailoring and must be aged between 18 and 25 years.