Fisher groups in Lamu county have received a donation of two fibre boats from the county government in partnership with World Bank-funded Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Program.
The boats worth Sh700,000 each were handed over to the Kiwayu and Mkokoni community development committees and will be used to expand the fishing trade in the areas.
The beneficiary groups are part of the fish value chain and were handed Sh700,000 each, which they used to purchase the fibre boats.
The ongoing multifaceted social protection program aims to increase productivity while creating resilience in members and minimising greenhouse gas emission.
Speaking during the handover on Friday, Lamu county Chief officer for Fisheries Abdul Fatah said KCSAP support will help in increasing food security and rural poverty eradication through better disposable income to households.
He said the project is in line with the county government development policy on food security as well as KCSAP's goals.
"In line with its fisheries and agricultural agenda, Lamu county is committed to fulfilling its KCSAP partnership mission for the benefit of its fishermen, smallholder farmers, and pastoral communities. We will set aside funds to purchase engines for these two boats, as well as ensuring that the two groups are properly equipped with fishing gear.," said Fatah.
He said the county government has since purchased fishing gear and will soon distribute it to fishermen around the county as part of the sector's post-Covid recovery efforts.
“We are talking about distributing gill nets, lines, flippers, GPS, eco-sounders, deep freezers, cooler boxes, and other fishing equipment ,” he said.
(Edited By Tabnacha O)
