The Kenyan government is constructing a Ksh.607 million Regional Maritime Training Hub in Kombani, Kwale County. The facility, which is currently 82 percent complete, will serve as a premier training centre for students from across the East and Central African region.
Once operational, the Regional Centre for Marine Transport & Port Logistics will offer specialized training in areas such as maritime transport, seafaring, port management, logistics, shipbuilding, marine science, marine engineering, and coxswain training. It aims to produce skilled professionals for a sector experiencing high global demand and is set to benefit trainees from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Deputy President kithure kindiki, who inspected the progress of the centre, highlighted its strategic importance in revitalizing value chains within Kenya’s maritime sector. “The centre is one of the interventions the Government is making to revitalize value chains in the blue economy and empower communities who derive their livelihoods from the maritime ecosystem,” DP Kindiki noted.
The maritime hub is part of a broader government initiative to strengthen the blue economy and support coastal communities. Already, the government has disbursed Ksh.3.2 billion in grants to fisher folk through Beach Management Units (BMUs). Infrastructural developments are also underway, including the construction of the Shimoni and Liwatoni Fish Ports, along with fish markets and landing sites in the five Indian Ocean counties Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, and Tana River.
These investments underscore Kenya’s commitment to transforming its maritime sector into a vibrant economic pillar. By equipping youth with relevant skills and modern infrastructure, the country seeks to unlock opportunities in maritime trade, fisheries, and ocean-related research.
With the Regional Maritime Training Hub nearing completion, the future of Kenya’s coastal economy looks promising, not only for locals but also for the region at large, positioning the country as a regional maritime education and logistics powerhouse.
