Members of Parliament were taken aback when they discovered that the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs had spent Ksh.1.6 billion on assessing fish stocks in the Indian Ocean.
Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hassan Ali Joho and Principal Secretary (PS) Muthoni Njagi appeared before the National Assembly's Committee on Blue Economy, Water, and Irrigation to justify whether the country received value for the funds spent.
The assessment aimed to gather data on fish conditions and breeding areas, which is crucial for estimating fish abundance and productivity. Tiaty MP William Kamket questioned the allocation, sarcastically asking, "You mean billions were spent just to count fish?"
CS Joho defended the initiative, explaining that such stock assessments are common in countries with interests in the blue economy.
He emphasized the necessity of a detailed report to attract investors and implement an informed licensing regime.
"This assessment goes beyond counting fish. It helps us understand the ocean’s ecosystem, which is vital for zoning and development," Joho explained.
The ministry requested an additional Ksh.600 million to complete the first phase of the assessment, which further agitated MPs. They raised concerns about why more funds were needed if the exercise was nearing completion.
PS Njagi clarified that the assessment, conducted in three phases, will run through 2025/26 and have an estimated total cost of Ksh.3.6 billion. "Each year, the contract costs Ksh.1.2 billion," she said.
Despite the explanations, MPs remained skeptical about the exercise’s value, given that the fish industry’s annual revenue barely exceeds Ksh.50 million.
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