Kenya to Focus on Maritime Safety, Security
Kenyan government vowed to strengthen maritime safety and security to help exploit maritime resources. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta called for closer cooperation, and effective coordination of all maritime policy at the different decision- making levels both at regional and continental levels.
Given that the maritime industry is the carrier of 92 percent of Kenya's international trade by volume, and given the importance of international trade to Keny's prosperity, the choice of investment was prudent too, Kenyatta said.
Kenyatta said a special focus must be put on training so that the country's maritime skills match the infrastructure being developed to exploit maritime resources. He said that a public university will soon start to offer training in maritime studies.
He asked Transport, Labor, Education and the National Treasury Cabinet Secretaries to put in place measures that will ensure the country's youth are equipped with skills that will enable them to take advantage of the maritime industry.
Kenyatta said that Kenya's maritime domain which extends over 230,000 square kilometers - the equivalent of about 31 of the country's 47 counties which he said has not been fully tapped by Kenyans.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan share of the Indian Ocean whose size compares to about two thirds of the country's land mass, remains virtually untapped. The Kenya Maritime Authority intends to harness its potential through a new policy.
