Principal Secretary for Shipping and Maritime Affairs Shadrack Mwadime has disclosed that his department has set aside Ksh20 million as an education support fund to be administered by HELB for students undertaking maritime-related courses.
Speaking at Coast Institute of Technology (Voi), the PS urged the youth to take advantage of the Support fund and enroll for the courses so as to explore the vast opportunities in the blue economy sector.
He disclosed further that in the next financial year, the government will increase the fund allocation to a tune of Ksh25 million to encourage more youth to take up maritime courses.
Mwadime held meetings with the youth from Taita Taveta county to inform them of the opportunities available in the sector and the requirements including where and how to acquire them.
He termed the ocean and the associated blue economy value chain as the new frontier for job creation for thousands of youth.
“There is a vast trove of life-changing opportunities in the blue economy sector whose potential, if exploited, is likely to be the key to addressing the unemployment crisis we’re currently facing,” he said.
The blue economy sector entails ocean-based job opportunities in cruise and cargo ships which include vessel maintenance units, marine security, seafarers, navigation teams, hospitality and tourism, marine engineering among others
There are also land-based jobs in ports, docks, and landing bays for ground crew, workers in Container Freight Stations (CFS) and landing zones for fishing trawlers.
According to the PS, Kenya has lagged behind in tapping the potential of oceans despite the fact that over 80 percent of international trade occurs across the oceans.
He stated that the maritime sector is expected to add 5,000 direct jobs annually to the Kenyan economy and that the government is pushing for partnership agreements with major shipping lines across the world to absorb the skilled youth in the sector.
Already, Kenya National Shipping Line (KNSL) has an agreement with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) to offer jobs to Kenyans. The agreement entails providing permanent employment to 1,500 workers and offering 1,500 more workers crucial sea time to gain experience. From January to date, 320 people have been employed under this arrangement.
KNSL Sales and Operations Manager Jacob Safari said the youth eyeing shipping jobs need to have the requisite skills, including the compulsory Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping (STCW).
Constance Mtakai, a youth from Voi, noted that most youth don’t opt for maritime courses because they are costly. A 10 day STCW course costs Ksh35, 000.
She urged the government to step in and make the courses affordable for the youth.
By Michael Oduor
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