Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Salim Mvurya has welcomed the assurance from the Government of the Netherlands that the proposed Sh1.5 billion project to spur the potential of blue economy and fisheries in Lake Turkana is still on course.
The CS expressed optimism that the mega project which cuts across Turkana and Marsabit counties will benefit the residents of the two Counties once complete.
“We have had very good bilateral relations with the Netherlands that date back many years and the partnership has been great. The reason why the ambassador is here is because we have been working on a project in Lake Turkana that will cost 10 million Euros which is approximately Sh 1.5 billion,” the CS said.
The Cabinet Secretary was addressing the media after a meeting with outgoing Netherlands Ambassador Maarten Brouwer who paid him a courtesy call at his ministry headquarters office in Nairobi.
“The ambassador has come to assure us that even though he has completed his assignment in Kenya, this partnership will continue,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
He pointed out that some basic activities of the Sh1.5 billion project have started but the main work will begin in September this year.
The other projects that the governments of Kenya and the Netherlands have been partnering in, the CS said are in the areas of maritime security and maritime vessel building.
“The vessels that we built in Kisumu and Mombasa were through the support of the Government of the Netherlands. We have also worked together in the Coast in a programme called ‘go-blue’ which brought all the European Union countries,” he added.
Ambassador Brouwer said his team has its focus fixed on the project and his successor will be adequately informed, noting that the big programme on maritime security, logistics and ship building will have a significant impact on the economic growth of the country.
“Looking back at the great cooperation we have had with this and other departments, I am sure it will keep on growing in the years to come,” ambassador Brouwer said.
The meeting was also attended by Blue Economy and Fisheries Principal Secretary Ms. Betsy Njagi and the Netherlands Embassy’s First Secretary for Food and Water Security, Mr. Pim van der Male.
By Kibet Cheptumo
