Efforts to train fishermen and empower women in the Blue Economy highlighted in senate

Parliament Buildings
Wednesday, 4th June 2025

The Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Ali Hassan Joho, appeared before the Senate Plenary to respond to questions raised by Senators.

Responding to Senator Miraj Abdulrahman (Nominated) on the Ministry’s initiatives on training fishermen CS Joho detailed the Ministry’s commitment through the State Department for the Blue Economy and Fisheries in equipping Kenyan youth with modern skills in deep-sea fishing to foster job creation and economic empowerment. He said 875 youth have been trained to work on local and foreign fishing vessels, including international ships, with certification compliant to the Fisheries Management and Development Act (Cap 378 of 2016). 

The training includes the internationally recognized Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) course at Bandari Maritime Academy, theoretical fisheries management, and practical deep-sea fishing onboard industrial vessels. Graduates receive STCW certification from the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and a Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) or Seaman’s Book, enabling global employment as seafarers. 

Additionally, 361 coxswains from fishing communities have been trained to enhance capacity in deep-sea fishing operations.

Regarding the use of the Ksh. 1 billion fund from the Canadian Government’s Global Affairs Department under the Investing in Women in the Blue Economy in Kenya (IW-BEK) project, CS Joho explained it is a five-year initiative running from February 2022 to November 2026. The programme targets women’s economic empowerment in fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, waste management, biodiversity protection, childcare and financial services across counties bordering Lake Victoria and the Indian Ocean. As of August 2023, approximately Ksh. 402 million (84% of the available funds) had been disbursed to 77 women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), creating 645 new jobs across nine counties. The programme provides technical assistance, business development training and gender barrier reduction support, reaching vulnerable women and youth.

On concerns about the international recognition of certificates issued by Bandari Maritime Academy, CS Joho clarified that the Academy operates under the regulation of KMA, Kenya’s designated representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Kenya is on the IMO whitelist, meaning seafarer certificates from KMA are globally accepted. Further, he said the Ministry is actively pursuing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with countries including South Korea, Denmark, Singapore, Egypt, China, Japan, Marshal Islands and the Bahamas to enhance mutual recognition of Kenyan seafarer qualifications. Bandari Maritime Academy has already signed MoUs with the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology and SIMAC Maritime University of Denmark and is finalizing agreements with Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute and Regional Maritime University of Ghana. These collaborations aim to increase sea time opportunities and improve the employability of Kenyan cadets and seafarers globally.

Responding to Senator (Prof.) Tom Ojienda’s queries related to mining regulations and enforcement in Kisumu County, CS Joho outlined that mining and related activities in Kenya are governed by the Mining Act Cap. 306 and subsidiary legislations covering licensing, permitting, processing, compliance and enforcement. Health, safety and environmental concerns are addressed under Part XI of the Mining Act, which mandates environmental laws, occupational health and safety standards, site restoration, mine closure plans and environmental protection bonds. The Ministry is currently developing Mine Health and Safety Regulations to ensure safe and sanitary mining operations, per Section 178(2) of the Mining Act.

On enforcement, the State Department for Mining works closely with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice on the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights, focusing on labor rights, environmental sustainability and community engagement. Prevention of child labour in mining is regulated under the Children’s Act 2022, Employment Act 2007 and ILO conventions, with Inspectors of Mines deployed at regional offices to monitor and investigate violations. The Ministry also maintains a Mining Police Unit to enforce compliance.

Regarding illegal artisanal gold mining in Kisumu County, CS Joho confirmed that the Government has decriminalized artisanal mining activities and is formalizing the sector by promoting mining cooperatives. A baseline survey conducted mid-2023 through regional offices mapped gold mining activities to inform regulation and formalization efforts. The Kisumu Artisanal Mining Committee was gazetted in April 2024, with ongoing efforts to designate artisanal mining zones that allow miners to operate legally without encroaching on licensed areas.

On capacity building, the Ministry has held workshops at Tom Mboya Labour College addressing modernisation and sustainable artisanal mining. Routine inspections and sensitization visits emphasize occupational safety and environmental conservation. Plans are underway to offer short courses in mining best practices and financial literacy, prioritized in the 2025/2026 budget.

To mitigate environmental impacts, mineral rights applicants must conduct environmental and social impact assessments and submit mine rehabilitation plans as required by the Mining Act. The State Department works with NEMA to conduct joint inspections of artisanal sites, ensuring adherence to environmental safeguards and remediation of affected areas.

CS Ali Hassan Joho concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening Kenya’s blue economy through skills development and empowering women, as well as ensuring responsible mining practices that promote safety, environmental protection and community welfare.