Kenya reducing fisheries funding in new fiscal year

Kenya has cut the budget for its fishery sector projects by 27 percent for the next fiscal year, even as the government seeks to complete key projects it previously launched.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani has allocated KES 7.8 billion (USD 67.2 million, EUR 61.7 million) for various projects promoting aquaculture, fish processing, and fisheries infrastructure, such as docks and landing areas, for the financial year starting June 2022. That allocation represents a decline from the KES 10.7 billion (USD 91.7 million, EUR 84.2 million) the National Treasury allocated last year.

Within the KES 3.32 trillion (USD 28.5 billion, EUR 26.2 billion) budget, Yatani has allocated additional funds for some ongoing fishery projects, including those partly financed by international lenders and development partners.

The three-component Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development Project – partly financed by the World Bank – has been allocated KES 2.8 billion (USD 24 million, EUR 22.1 million), down from the KES 3.4 billion (USD 27.5 million, EUR 25.2 million) it was allocated last year. The development project’s main components include the governance and management of marine fisheries, coastal community empowerment and livelihoods, and project management.

Also included in the budget is KES 1.9 billion (USD 16.3 million, EUR 15 million) for an ongoing aquaculture business development project aimed at enabling potential aquaculture producers in 15 counties in Kenya. The project has the support of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and has the goal to “assist large numbers of smallholders to become profitable fish producers or village-level providers of related services within a secure value chain framework,” according to IFAD.

A planned fish-processing plant in the coastal county of Lamu has been allocated KES 1 billion (USD 8.6 million, EUR 7.9 million), while the rehabilitation of fish landing-sites on the shores of Lake Victoria has received KES 210 million (USD 1.8 million, EUR 1.6 million).

Additionally, Yatani announced an allocation of KES 270 million (USD 2.32 million, EUR 2.13 million) for Kenya’s coastal fisheries infrastructure development project, and a further KES 204 million (USD 1.8 million, EUR 1.6 million) for a aquaculture technology development and innovation transfer program over the next year.

Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for accelerating the sustainable development of the country’s seafood sector, and has said better fisheries management will be a priority for Kenya.

Photo courtesy of Kenya's National Treasury.