Mombasa county signs Sh60 million with KCB to support fishing

MOMBASA, KENYA: Mombasa county government and Kenya Commercial Bank Foundation have embarked on a Sh60 million project to support about 4000 local fishermen.
The bank and the county government have entered into a partnership in which each party will contribute Sh30 million towards the construction of modern boats to enable fishermen venture into deep sea fishing.
Boat building for the members of Beach Management Units (BMUs) is set to start next month which is expected to improve catches from the Indian Ocean.
Speaking at the Royal Castle Hotel in Mombasa on Friday during the training for fishermen, County executive in charge of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Mr Anthony Njaramba and KCB foundation manager Ms Rachel Gathoni said the project was ready for take- off.
"This is part of the county government's vision of ensuring that all 14 BMUs eventually have modern boats to venture into deep sea fishing," Njaramba explained.
He explained that governor Hassan Joho signed the partnership with KCB foundation on August 29 this year where both parties committed to contribute Sh30 million towards the project.
He explained that the meeting was meant to review the county government strategy management of the project, adding that it has seconded five staff members to assist in running the project.
The boats to be constructed locally have a capacity to land 10 tonnes each but fishermen will have an initial target of three tonnes for each boat a week.
"This will give them an income of Sh600,000 per week which translates to 100 times what they earn currently. This project will also give birth to the boat making industry in Mombasa county," he noted, adding the boats will cost between Sh15 million and Sh20 million compared each compared to Sh60 million for the imported ones.
The county government would back up the project with generators and cold storage facilities to maximize earnings for the fishermen.