His Excellency Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta the President and Commander-in -Chief of the the Kenya Defence Forces on Monday, 19 November 2018 officially launched the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS), a maritime security organ that will operate in high seas to protect Kenya’s territorial waters against terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, human and drug trafficking among other maritime crimes.
Speaking at a ceremony held in Liwatoni Fisheries Complex in Mombasa, the President noted that despite the Country having massive potential from her marine resources, over ten billion shillings were lost annually from illegal economic activities on Kenya’s territorial waters. The advent of the Coast Guard, he emphasized would help a great deal in ensuring the Country reaches the level maximally utilizing her marine resources. ”Maritime resources contribute to only 2.5 per cent of our GDP, yet if they were fully exploited they would bring the country more than triple that amount, offer jobs and even livelihoods to thousands,” he said.
The President commended the Blue Economy Implementation Standing Committee for all the support and effort it has put in order to ensure the realization of the Coast Guard Service.
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