The government on Friday, April 7, rolled out plans of establishing the first Kenya Marine Research Center valued at Ksh900 million in Malindi.
The development was revealed by the chairman of the Tourism and Wildlife Committee in the National Assembly and Maara Member of Parliament (MP) Kareke Mbiuki during a press briefing in Malindi.
Mbiuki explained that it was the government's strategy to boost the tourism sector and promote the blue economy in the country.
He was speaking during a tour of the Tourism and Wildlife Committee Members of the National Assembly at the proposed site for the facility in Malindi.
The research facility will include a Ksh500 million research center and a Ksh400 million marine aquarium.
“We seriously need to put in modern infrastructure, to put in laboratories and engage well-paid scientists since currently, the country has only seven government-employed research scientists yet we need at least 30,” the MP explained.
The facility, which is expected to place at least 30 Kenyan marine researchers in global scientific engagements, will host an aquarium to showcase Kenya’s marine wildlife and offer refuge to injured marine animals.
Dr Mohamed Omar, a marine scientist, explained that Kenya was losing a lot to foreign countries since animals in some foreign aquariums had been acquired from Kenya.
“What we are planning to do is to have a marine aquarium because when you go to Dubai you will see our sharks in aquariums there yet they have been acquired from Kenya,” he stated.
He added that the aquarium will also serve as a research and rescue centre for marine wildlife since Kenya has varieties of marine life that are not studied.
“We have so many wild animals that have not been studied and having an aquarium here will help us keep them for studies and then release them to the waters," he stated.
At the same time, Lamu East MP Ruweida Mohamed wondered why foreign countries were showcasing marine wildlife acquired from Kenya.
“We go to Singapore to swim with dolphins only to realize that they were acquired from Kenya, we need to have our own hub for the animals,” she noted.
Currently, the Kenya Marine Research office is in Mombasa together with the KWS office.
