A Sh2.6 billion modern fishing port in Shimoni, Kwale County, is now complete and ready for commissioning, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has announced.

The facility is expected to transform industrial fishing in the coastal region and strengthen Kenya’s efforts to unlock the full potential of its Blue Economy.

The harbor was built by Southern Engineering Company (SECO), the same firm behind the Kisumu Oil Jetty. Construction began in April 2023 as part of a wider Sh20 billion government plan to expand marine infrastructure along Kenya’s coast.

The new port includes a 75-metre by 30-metre jetty and a 135-metre causeway capable of docking two vessels at once.

It also features fish handling facilities, cold storage units, reefer stations, an ice-making plant, a power sub-station, a bio-digester, wastewater systems, and a fish processing plant, all aimed at supporting value addition for both local and export markets.

KPA managing director William Ruto described the project as a breakthrough for the fishing industry and the coastal economy.

“This modern port will boost fish production, processing, and exports, transforming livelihoods along the Coast,” he said.

The project forms part of Kenya’s Blue Economy strategy, which aims to maximise the use of marine resources, especially within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Indian Ocean.

Although Kenya’s EEZ has an estimated fish production potential of 350,000 metric tons per year, the country currently produces only 9,134 tons, valued at Sh2.4 billion.

Shimoni Port alone is projected to handle up to 40,000 metric tons annually, making it a major contributor to closing the national fish supply gap. Kenya’s annual fish production currently stands at around 180,000 tons, while demand is estimated at 500,000 tons.

This shortfall has left the country heavily dependent on imports, mainly from China.

For years, poor infrastructure and limited access to modern equipment have limited the productivity of coastal fishing communities.

To address this, the government has launched projects worth Sh10 billion across Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Lamu counties through the World Bank-funded Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-Economic Development Project (KEMFSED).

These efforts are focused on creating alternative sources of income, building capacity among fishers, and promoting value addition.

Beach Management Units (BMUs), currently numbering about 445, are also being converted into cooperative societies to help fishermen access financing and support.

Kenya has about 240,700 square kilometers of water resources, which make up around 42 percent of its land area.

This includes a 600-kilometre coastline and a 370-kilometre stretch of EEZ in the Indian Ocean.

Experts believe the maritime sector has the potential to contribute up to Sh500 billion to the country’s GDP each year if fully developed.