Kenya's maritime sector touted as key economy driver

Design of the first three berths of Lamu Port. PHOTO | FILE 

By GITONGA MARETE, gmarete@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Conference is expected to come up with strategies for the development of the sector as a key driver of the national economy.
• Initiative comes in the wake of increased off-shore exploration of gas and drilling in Lamu, development of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (Lapsset) corridor and construction of the new container terminal at the Mombasa port, all of which will require huge logistics and manpower capacity.

The Transport and Infrastructure ministry plans will hold a key conference next month with the aim of sensitising investors on the opportunities that exist in the country’s maritime industry
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Themed ‘From Land to Sea: New Frontiers for National Development,’ the conference is expected to bring together participants drawn from the government, policy makers, the legislature, shipping industry and international maritime experts, among others.

The forum, which will be held at the Kenyatta International Conventional Centre (KICC) on February 23 and 24, is expected to come up with strategies for the development of the sector as a key driver of the national economy.

According to the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA,) which the ministry is collaborating with to organise the conference, new and future activities in the sector are likely to be main drivers of the country’s economy.

“The strategies will include creating of local technical and human resource capacity in readiness for the expected developments in port infrastructure, shipping, offshore energy and shore operations,” says Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau.

The initiative comes in the wake of increased off-shore exploration of gas and drilling in Lamu, development of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (Lapsset) corridor and construction of the new container terminal at the Mombasa port, all of which will require huge logistics and manpower capacity.

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Although the Lamu port office block has been built, and construction of the first three berths set to be launched soon after land owners have been compensated, development of other support services has not gone in tandem with the project. 

“There is urgency for the government to develop port auxiliary infrastructure, domestic shipping and maritime transport related industries including cruise tourism with a view to spur national economic development,” says Mr Kamau in a conference concept paper.

“While the maritime industry contributes 92 per cent of Kenya’s international trade, this potential is yet to be exploited. This is reflected in the skewed investments in the maritime sector as compared with other sectors of the economy,” the minister notes.

Kenya is not the only country in the continent that has not fully exploited its marine resources.

In recognition of this, the African Union developed an Integrated Maritime Strategy Agenda (AIM) in 2010 with a view to “strengthening the African port and shipping sector and developing strategies to grow the African Blue Economy.”