The Government through the State Department for the Blue Economy and Fisheries has organised a series of National Stakeholders Engagement Forums to develop Kenya’s Marine Spatial Plan (MSP).
The participatory process aims to ensure the sustainable, equitable, and inclusive utilisation of Kenya’s marine and coastal resources for the benefit of people and the environment.
The four-day forums will take place from Monday, November 24, 2025 at the North Coast Beach Hotel in Kilifi County.
According to Janet Wambua of MSP National Secretariat, the engagement meetings will bring together Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations, private sector players, County Government stakeholders, and vulnerable and marginalized groups.
“The MSP process is currently in the Plan Development Phase, which emphasises intensive stakeholder participation to ensure inclusivity and transparency,” said Ms Wambua.
The Kilifi forums follow last month’s collection of views from community engagements that took place in the coastal region.
The MSP national secretariat visited five coastal counties of Kilifi, Lamu, Kwale, Tana River and Mombasa to gather information and perspectives from community representatives to inform the development of the plan.
The MSP forums served as a reflection on the sustainable development of the country’s vast marine resources and the immense potential inherent in the maritime space.
Most of the participants welcomed the government’s initiative to develop a marine spatial plan to transform the multi-billion-shilling blue economy sector.
Integrating land and sea planning seeks to promote the blue economy sector and ensure sustainable development of the maritime industry.
The National Coordinator for the Marine Spatial Plan, Dr Jackline Uku, said MSP outlines the vision and strategies to utilise the oceanic resources of fisheries, oil and gas and other seabed minerals and renewable energy potential like wind, waves and tides.
Dr Uku noted coastal states like Kenya, which has a unique maritime position, have sovereignty over these waters, allowing them to exercise rights for exploiting, conserving, and managing the natural assets.
She added the plan is a national strategy to manage and utilise marine and coastal resources by balancing ecological, social and economic objectives.
By Mohamed Hassan
