Lawmakers were yesterday shocked to learn that the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs spent Sh1.6 billion to “count fish” in Kenya’s zone of the Indian Ocean in the 2023/2024 financial year.

Members on the Committee on Blue Economy, chaired by Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen, also heard that the ministry had budgeted for a total of Sh3.6 billion for the work and is still seeking an additional Sh600 million in 2024/2025.

At a meeting with Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and his Principal Secretary Betsy Muthoni Njagi, lawmakers sought to know whether there was any value for money for the “marine fish stock assessment”.

They also asked the ministry to explain why it could set aside Sh3.6 billion to “count the fish” yet it did not raise a “mere” Sh50 million in revenue.

Three phases

The stock taking, which started on 1 July 2023, is expected to be completed in the 2025/ 2026 financial year. It will be implemented in three phases, with each costing a whopping Sh1.2 billion.

In particular, Bowen led other committee members in demanding to know the outcome of the assessment, whether there was value for money and the exact number of fish Kenya has.

Said Bowen: “Out of that assessment, what was the end product? Do you have anything to give us?

“We gave you about Sh1.2 billion to do some stock assessment in the first year. At this point, you should be telling us and telling the country that we have this number of tuna fish, this number of tilapia etc. We gave you the money so we can know what we have in our waters.”

William Kamket (Tiaty) sought to know if indeed it was true that the ministry was allocated the billions to only count fish.

He said: “So you are telling this committee that you were allocated billions just to count fish in the ocean.”

Austerity measures

Eric Wamumbi (Mathira) demanded that the CS table the latest figures from the first phase of the assessment.

He said: “I am the MP for Mathira and if you ask me how many registered voters are in Mathira, I do not need to research.

“I know because IEBC did its work … [The CS] is the person in charge of that assessment. He should give us figures on the report of the last assessment. He does not need to prepare.”

Roza Buyu (Kisumu West) also sought to know why the ministry is budgeting for another Sh600 million if the project was completed, having gobbled up Sh1.6 billion.

She posed: “You are talking of some projects not being completed because of austerity measures in the country, yet for this one you have Sh600 million allocated to it. What is the secret behind it?”

’Global practice’

Their comments came after Joho and his team clarified that the stock assessment had been done and that a report will be tabled on the progress made so far.

Joho maintained that stock assessment is a global practice and thus every country that has interest in matters of the blue economy must undertake it as it informs the licensing regime and enables governments to inform investors on the exact numbers that a country has.

He said: “The assessment really goes beyond counting fish. It is being able to understand the entire ecosystem so we can understand the zoning in the ocean. The three-year period allows us to continuously monitor them because they migrate and move and have areas of breeding.”

’Monsoon seasons’

Regarding the additional Sh600 million that the ministry is seeking, senior chief finance officer Michael Wamwea explained that this was to cover phase two of the first year.

Joho said: “There is a phase two of the two remaining monsoon seasons. That is why the Sh600 million is required.

“We will be able to table a report showing the milestones achieved and the justification even for this milestone.”