Aasai

The Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs requests National Treasury funding amounting to Sh1 billion to finalize their fish population survey in national waters.

A three-year financial period of Sh3.6 billion served as the initial budget provided by the ministry for Indian Ocean fish stock assessment.

The initial date for project implementation was July 1, 2023 as part of a three-phase plan until the 2025/2026 financial year completion.

As of December 2024 the project consumed Sh2 billion although the estimated cost allocation for each phase amounted to Sh1.2 billion.

The Star viewed documents indicating the ministry requires Sh1 billion to finish building Liwatoni Ultra-Modern Fish Hub Phase One.

Principal Secretary Betsy Muthoni explained to Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen as the chair of the Blue Economy Committee that the department faces insufficient development budget from Treasury to complete its pipeline initiatives.

PS Muthoni presented to the committee that the State Department received Sh9.632 billion through the 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) split between Sh6.799 billion Development funding and Sh. 2,832.9 Million Recurrent funding for FY 2025/26.

The PS stated that funds will support completion of fish landing sites and markets and enable smallscale aquaculture operations through technical services and provision of aquaculture inputs and establish the National Mariculture Resource and Training Centre (NAMARET) in Shimoni, Kwale County.

The mandate encompasses the three main activities which include research and innovation and the enhancement of local investments alongside policy coordination of national ocean plans.

The funds need Sh23 million to pay Okeno and Sons Building Contractors their court-awarded settlement amount while previous financial years settled only a portion of the payment.