@ppcheti
The Lamu government has launched a community awareness campaign to boost fishing in Mpeketoni.
The campaign is in partnership with the Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-Economic Development.
Last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta launched a Sh10 billion project to increase the income of fishing communities in Lamu, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa and Taita Taveta.
The project's development goal is to improve management and value addition of key fisheries instalments and aquaculture.
Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha underscored the project's potential, saying that it must be fully utilised to generate investments, create jobs, enhance tax revenues and improve livelihoods.
Twaha who is also the chairperson of the Council of Governors Blue Economy Committee spoke on Thursday during the launch.
"The campaign aims to prepare the community to engage with the project. Through consultations with community-based groups, we will design, plan and implement the various components of KEMFSED community-driven projects," he said.
Beneficiary community groups will be given the opportunity to participate in deliberations on how various project activities will be managed and implemented.
KEMSFED Lamu project coordinator Mohamed Athman said community consultations is the most direct means for residents to participate and provide input into the implementation of various project activities.
“This is a platform where the community gets to decide what they want and how they want it done,” he said.
Athman said residents should enroll in community-based groups as the project financing will only target those in registered groups.
“We won’t give individuals. Let people rush and register in groups so they can benefit,” he said.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
