Kenya receives six patrol vessels worth sh 306m from Japan

Kenya on Wednesday received six patrol vessels valued at Sh306 million from the Japanese government to enhance security at sea.

Speaking during the official handing over of the vessels in Mombasa, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the vessels will be used to deal with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and surveillance within Kenya's territorial waters.

He said that the patrol boats will in particular facilitate physical surveillance and electronic monitoring of marine fisheries to rid the waters of illegal fishing and related crimes.

“I am glad to learn that the boats have been assembled and trial undertaken alongside training for the sea crew manning,” the DP said.

 “We are deeply grateful to the people and the government of Japan, and to execute this critical assignment the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs will therefore ensure that they work with other ministries and the national government agencies,” he said.

The deputy president said President William Ruto's administration is steadfast to deliver on the ocean economy and development for the benefit of the coastal communities and the country.

He said they acknowledge the partnership with the government of Japan through Jica and collaboration with the six coastal counties.

The government realises the importance of expanding the scope of partnership in the blue economy beyond monitoring and surveillance by injecting more resources.

Gachagua said the government will fast track the development of the blue economy because the sector is an important enabler of the bottom-up economic transformation agenda of the Ruto administration.

“The blue economy and fisheries sector also present an opportunity for jobs, food security and absorption of carbon and marine from marine ecosystem, which is key to tackling climate change,” he said.

Japanese ambassador to Kenya Ken Okaniwa said that it was not the first time they were presenting patrol vessels.

“In the past, we presented 19 vessels to the Kenya Coast Guard Service and this is because of the partnership between Japan and Kenya, which is probably one of the most important in the continent. Therefore it is my great pleasure to attend the handover ceremony of the six patrol vessels to the government of Kenya,” he said.

Okaniwa revealed that Japan's prime minister will be visiting Nairobi in two weeks’ time, which shows that the Japanese government treasures the good cooperation between the two countries.