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Kenya: Set Aside Sh3.5bn for Fish Farming, Nairobi MCAs Tell City Hall

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4 years ago

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Nairobi MCAs are pushing for City Hall to set aside Sh3.5 billion in its next supplementary budget towards promotion of fish farming in the capital.

The money will be used to buy and distribute free fingerlings to the youth and small scale farmers as well as establishing industrial cooling plants for fish preservation.

In a motion approved by the House, the city MCAs pointed out that provision of the free fingerlings and establishment of the cooling plants will boost fish farming.

Riruta MCA James Kiriba, mover of the motion, said the cooling plants will be put up in four different parts of the county.

He explained that the project seeks to boost food security, reduce poverty and create jobs.

A 2017 Kenya Aquaculture report revealed that the fisheries and aquaculture sector contributes about 0.8 per cent to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), providing direct employment opportunities to over 500,000 people and supporting over two million people indirectly.

Small-scale fishers

“We want to create a very friendly environment to small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers also among many other benefits to boost the economy of fish farmers. Kenya has a high potential for fish farming as it can offer prospects for sustainable food security and income for communities hence creation of employment,” said Mr Kiriba.

The ward representative pointed out that a 2015 status report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries observed that fisheries development in Kenya was slow due to a number of obstacles such as high running cost, lack of access to high quality fingerlings, lack of political good will and low investment by Kenyans in the sector, among others.