State to build landing port for fisher-folk

Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei has said the Government plans to construct a fish port on the Kenyan coast.

Koskei said the proposed port will be built in Lamu and will handle 500 fishing vessels as the country seeks to boost commercial fishing in Kenya's coastal waters.

The CS said the investment is also expected to give the country an edge over its neighbours by attracting foreign fishing vessels operating within the country's exclusive economic zones.

Estimates show that the country loses more than Sh10 billion annually from illegal fishing.

Fishermen along the Coast also claim that the upsurge of illegal fishermen from neighboring countries has depleted their marine resources.

"Exploiting this resource and landing the harvest on the Kenyan coastline will contribute to food security, employment and wealth creation," said Koskei.