Members of Parliament were surprised to learn that the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs spent Ksh.1.6 billion in fiscal year 2023/24 to assess the status of fish in the Indian Ocean.
Blue mining CS Hassan Ali Joho and PS Muthoni Njagi were summoned to the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water, and Irrigation to explain whether the country received value for the money spent on the project.
Fish stock assessment is the process of gathering, analyzing, and reporting data on fish health and breeding areas in order to estimate abundance and productivity rates.
“So you are telling this Committee you were allocated billions just to count fish in the ocean?” Tiaty MP William Kamket posed.
The Joho-led team responded by explaining that stock assessment is a global practice that occurs in every country that has interest in blue economy affairs.
The CS also stated that having an assessment report of marine life in the Indian Ocean is necessary when requesting investors to bring their vessels to Kenya.
“As a country, we must understand where we are so that when we defend a position, it’s based on detailed scientific research,” Joho said.
“It (the assessment) informs us on the licensing regime we use. We will not be able to go investors to tell them to come to Kenya if we don’t have an assessment report,” he added.
“It goes beyond counting fish. It is being able to understand the entire eco-system so we can understand the zoning in the ocean.”
Furthermore, the MPs were outraged when Joho’s team requested an additional Ksh.600 million to complete the first phase of the exercise.
They questioned why the team needed more money when the assessment had already been completed.
PS Njagi responded to the questions, stating that the exercise was carried out in stages and that the funds would be used to complete the remaining portion over the previous year.
She explained that the stock assessment will be completed in three phases over the course of the fiscal year 2025/26, totaling Ksh 3.6 billion.
“This framework contract is for 3 years. Every year is Ksh.1.2 billion,” Njagi said
Despite explaining the importance of the exercise, MPs expressed concerns about its value for money, claiming that the fish industry barely produces Ksh.50 million per year.
CS Joho assured the Committee that once investors joined the industry, it would yield a return on investment.
Add Comment