Boost for locals as Shimoni Fishing Port now expected to be operational by March 2025
The project will include a modern jetty, fish landing and processing facilities, meat plants, cold storage units, and an ice-making factory.
Locals from Kwale County have received a significant boost after the government announced the Sh2.6 billion Shimoni Fish Port in Kwale County will be operational by March 2025.
The project will include a modern jetty, fish landing and processing facilities, meat plants, cold storage units, and an ice-making factory.
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The developments are projected to boost economic activity, create jobs, and enhance household incomes within the coastal region.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki revealed that the port is central to the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) Plan.
Speaking during an inspection of the project on Tuesday, he expressed optimism about its economic potential.
“This port is not just a fishing hub; it is an economic lifeline for the coastal region and the entire nation,” he said.
Kindiki added that the port would increase the blue economy’s GDP contribution from the current Sh37 billion to Sh80 billion annually by 2026 and further to Sh150 billion by 2027.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki accompanied by other state officials when he assessed progress of ongoing works at the Shimoni Fish Port in Kwale County on January 7, 2024. (Photo: DPCS)
To complement the infrastructure, the government is also offering financial grants to fisherfolk for the purchase of modern deep-sea fishing vessels and equipment. Kindiki stated that this support would empower local communities and ensure optimal utilisation of marine resources.
The Shimoni Fish Port is expected to directly benefit the Shimoni community by creating employment opportunities and improving the livelihoods of local fisherfolk. Leaders in the region, including Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, have hailed the project, saying it will transform the lives of residents.
The Deputy President was accompanied by other senior officials, including Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Maritime Affairs, and the Blue Economy, Ali Hassan Joho, and Principal Secretary Betsy Njagi. They pledged to ensure the timely completion of the project.
“We are committed to having this facility operational as planned. It will not only bolster the fishing industry but also spur the growth of associated industries in the region,” Kindiki said.
The Shimoni Fish Port forms part of the government’s broader strategy to harness the potential of the blue economy for wealth creation, employment, and sustainable economic growth.
