Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSME’s Hon. Simon Chelugui revealed that the government has strategized to tap into the potential of the blue economy to enhance the sustainability of the living ecosystems.
In a speech, read by his PS Patrick Kilemi during Bandari Sacco’s 9th Chama Expo and Trade Fair, the CS noted that the coastal lines are extremely valuable in providing ecosystem services with many individuals earning their livelihoods from them thus the government has put in place initiatives to enhance growth in the sector.
“The ministry is at the forefront to harness the potential of the Blue Economy and collaborate with other stakeholders to protect and conserve the living ecosystem which goes hand in hand in ensuring its sustainability,” CS Chelugui said.
He also noted that to foster the sustainability of the sector, the sector must partner with various environmental groups, local communities and scientists to enhance the reduction of waste, immunization of sea weed and also create employment.
He further added that the state created a legal framework which will foster fair and equitable access to marine resources, empower the marine communities, improve knowledge of the marine resources and also enable the communities to adopt good decision-making processes to shape their future.
The cooperatives were also advised to exploit the marine resources in a responsible way to ensure fishing policies are sustainable with minimal collection and less pollution of the ecosystem. He further stated that cooperatives ought to unite efforts due to the shifting tides, digital markets and global uncertainties to enhance growth in a sustainable manner using the Cooperative Model.
Patrick kilemi, the Principal Secretary for Cooperatives also added that Kenya has an abundance of untapped maritime resources along its coastal region and in various counties which should be looked into and thus amicable solutions should be brought forth to foresee any inclusive, integrated and sustainable approaches to economic growth while developing new work streams such as small-scale
fisheries, waste recycling and strengthening of value chains amongst others.
Kilemi also noted that each year, the government releases about 800,000 educated youth to the job market while the economy cannot sustain the high rates thus alternative solutions have to be tapped.
Through exploiting of the core-sectors such as the cooperatives, a number of the youth and women are able to access employment in the sector, he stated.
Share this story:
