Over 3,000 residents are set to benefit from Ksh 3.2 billion funding secured by governors from the European Union with an aim of cushioning youths and women through job opportunities.
The EU on Tuesday, March 30, confirmed that it will give the funds to coastal counties in support of the Blue economy projects set to have a high impact on the residents.
“Go Blue aims at strengthening inclusive Blue economy value chains, creating wealth and transforming the lives of not just the people living in the coastal areas, but those of other Kenyans as well,” said EU deputy Ambassador to Kenya, Katrin Hagemann.
(Kwale, second right) and Amason Kingi (right, Kilifi) at State House on Wednesday 24, 2021.
The initiative dubbed Go Blue was launched during a virtual meeting and it will cut across Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa Tana River, Lamu, and Taita Taveta counties.
The governors of the six counties confirmed that they have already identified high-impact projects such as fisheries, aquaculture, and maritime security which will benefit over 3,000 youths and women in the region.
Other sectors cited during the meeting include culture and tourism and spatial land-sea planning.
The Blue economy project will be carried out in four years with the aim being to ensure that the coastal ecosystem is revamped and residents are engaged in part of full-time development activities.
“Kenya’s coast is “a precious ecosystem” that has the potential to unlock opportunities for the country’s sustainable development,” Hagemann said.
Hagemann further noted that this program comes at a time when the economic, environmental, and social developments need to be given the highest priority.
While confirming the EU commitment, a Coastal Economic block is known as Jumuiya Ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) said the money from the EU will create multiple employment opportunities and jobs for the coastal residents.
According to the JKP Chief Executive Emmanuel Nzai, the governor's commitment to work together was beginning to yield fruits.
“It is a testimony that partnership between different regional counties, communities sharing resources and the world works,” Nzai said.
The Blue economy project aims at enabling sustainable use of ocean resources in economic growth and creation of jobs to improve livelihoods in addition to having a healthy ocean ecosystem.
