PROSPECTS FOR THE KENYAN BLUE ECONOMY

The document examines Kenya's strategic shift toward an integrated Blue Economy, encompassing maritime sectors and inland water bodies. While highlighting growth in port capacity and aquaculture, it identifies critical risks including illegal fishing, environmental degradation from large infrastructure projects, and social exclusion. The author emphasizes the need for better coordination between government ministries and inclusive national dialogue to ensure sustainable development.

• Kenya has transitioned toward an integrated approach to its maritime economy, evidenced by the June 2016 renaming of the Department of Fisheries to the Department of Fisheries and Blue Economy and the January 2017 creation of a Blue Economy Implementation Committee.
• The shipping sector has seen significant growth, with cargo volumes at the port of Mombasa increasing from 14.4 million tonnes in 2006 to 27 million tonnes in 2017, with a projection of 44 million tonnes by 2025.
• Kenya's fisheries sector is dominated by freshwater catches, with over 90% originating from Lake Victoria; however, the country faces significant economic losses, estimated up to $100 million annually, due to illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing.
• Large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor and a proposed coal-fired power plant in Lamu, have raised significant environmental concerns and led to legal disputes over inadequate community compensation.
• Marine protection in Kenya is limited, with only about 1% of waters fully protected, though research indicates that both large government reserves and small community-managed reserves effectively support fish population recovery.
• The Mikoko Pamoja project in Gazi Bay serves as a successful model of community-based conservation, becoming the first such project globally to trade carbon credits to fund community water, sanitation, and education.
• Effective governance of the Blue Economy is hindered by a lack of public communication regarding the mandate of the Blue Economy Implementation Committee and a need for better integration of socio-economic objectives with conservation goals.

APA

BENKENSTEIN, A. (2018). PROSPECTS FOR THE KENYAN BLUE ECONOMY. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Policy-Insights-62.pdf

Chicago

BENKENSTEIN, ALEX. PROSPECTS FOR THE KENYAN BLUE ECONOMY. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2018. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Policy-Insights-62.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=BENKENSTEIN |first1=ALEX |title=PROSPECTS FOR THE KENYAN BLUE ECONOMY |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=July 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Policy-Insights-62.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{benkenstein2018prospects, author = {BENKENSTEIN, ALEX}, title = {{PROSPECTS FOR THE KENYAN BLUE ECONOMY}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2018}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Policy-Insights-62.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }