Chapter 17: Utilising Kenya’s marine resources for national development

Abstract

This chapter discusses how Kenya can maximise the use of its marine resources to spur economic growth and development for the betterment of its citizens’ livelihoods. While it has been observed that oceans provide a substantial portion of the global population with food, livelihoods and are the means of transport for 80% of global trade, Kenya cannot arguably boast of securing as many benefits from its related resources.1 Furthermore, the marine and coastal environment also constitutes a key resource for the important global tourism industry, supporting all aspects of the tourism development cycle from infrastructure and the familiar ‘sun, sand and sea’ formula to the diverse and expanding domain of nature-based tourism.2 Tourism is one of Kenya’s key economic sectors, but its potential has not been fully exploited.3 It has also been documented4 that the seabed currently provides 32% of the global supply of hydrocarbons with exploration expanding and advancing technologies opening new frontiers of marine resource development from bio-prospecting to the mining of seabed mineral resources. The sea offers vast potential for renewable blue energy production from wind, wave, tidal, thermal and biomass sources.5 While Kenya has made some progress in this regard, it is yet to fully tap into these resources. This source of energy would be key in boosting Kenya’s efforts towards meeting its energy requirements for national development and realising its Vision 2030.6 The main livelihoods for the majority of Kenyans are agriculture, livestock, fishing and forestry. In addition, tourism is Kenya’s greatest foreign exchange earner, and one of the largest sources of employment.7 The moist sub-humid to humid lands are classified as the high potential areas of Kenya, supporting rain-fed agriculture; while the