Yatani, Mwathethe to lead efforts on zero-rating of ship imports

MOMBASA, Kenya, Dec 17 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani to come up with a strategy to zero-rate the price of imported fish vessels, in a move meant to enhance investments in the maritime sector.

The Cabinet Secretary was directed to work with the Head of the Ocean and Blue Economy Office, Retired General Samson Mwathethe, to come up with an implementation framework, that would lead to the actualization of the strategy, before the end of January 2022.

While speaking during the launch of Kenya’s modern shipyard facility at the Kenya Navy Mtongwe base in Mombasa, the first-of –its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa, President Kenyatta further urged the two to convene government agencies to develop a ship bunkering and channeling package.

He noted that the package would be beneficial in providing modalities for ensuring robust oil bunkering for both domestic and foreign ships calling on Kenyan ports.

“If we are to maximize the dividends of the investments we are making, I want to urge the county government in the coastal regions, to draw up their own strategies to strengthen maritime commercial activities such as fishing, tourism and transport. By doing so, we will be able to unlock the enormous business potential that abounds within Kenya’s territorial waters and coastal strip,” he added.

CS Yatani and General Mwathethe were further tasked with the development of a comprehensive training program that is designed to produce at least 4000 suitably qualified seafarers/PSCU

CS Yatani and General Mwathethe were further tasked with the development of a comprehensive training program that is designed to produce at least 4,000 suitably qualified seafarers.

They were also directed to create an open ship register and a ship repair and building incentive package.

The Head of State noted that the directives would ensure that the maritime sector grows and reaches its full potential in order for the country to reap maximum benefits from the blue economy.

“As the national government we will continue to cooperate with like-minded stakeholders to sustainably exploit the natural resources available within our maritime borders with high quality facilities in Kisumu and Mombasa,” he said.