President Uhuru Kenyatta's efforts in reviving the Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL) are set to pay off after the state corporation received orders from Tanzania and Uganda.
While touring the KSL yard in Kisumu County, Government Spokesperson, Col. (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna, revealed that the country had received six orders from members of the East African Community (EAC).
Oguna stated that the corporation which is run by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) would be a force to reckon with after investment made by the government in reviving the corporation.
“In Africa, there are only two countries that are known to build ships and that is South Africa and Egypt. Kenya is joining thta leagues as of now and we must be very proud.
This facility here in addition to constructing our own ship is also going to construct ships for the neighboring countries and also repairing and rehabilitating their ships,” he stated.
KSL is one of the government corporations that were revived during the second term of President Kenyatta. The country currently has two yards based in Kisumu and Mombasa counties.
Additionally, KSL deputy director, Col Peter Muthungu, stated that the new venture would see the country benefit economically from trade and the jobs created.
He added that 17 companies had expressed interest in ships from the Kenyan corporation. He also revealed that KSL is building the MV Uhuru II whose cost is estimated to be over Ksh2 billion.
“We came here in May 2021 and the main aim then was to revive the MV Uhuru I and that ship had been grounded from 1998.
“In total, we have got 17 orders from different companies that want us to construct ships for them,” he stated.
The Head of State officially launched the KSL in December 2021 as the government aimed to tap into the region's blue economy.
“The key sub-sectors of the blue economy, which include maritime transport and logistics, fisheries, as well as ship-building and repair, represent low hanging fruits that must be exploited,”
“The direct, indirect and induced impacts of the Mombasa Shipyard will create many jobs, generate diverse investment opportunities and raise revenue for the country," Uhuru stated then.
