"Billions to count fish?" MPs stunned by Ministry’s Ksh.1.6 Billion expenditure

Blue mining CS Hassan Ali Joho and PS Muthoni Njagi were called before the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water, and Irrigation to explain whether the country received value for the money spent on the exercise.

Fish stock assessment is the process of collecting, analysing, and reporting on fish condition and breeding areas in order to estimate abundance and productivity rates.

"So you are telling this Committee you were allocated billions just to count fish in the ocean?" Tiaty MP William Kamket posed. 

In response, the Joho-led team explained that the stock assessment is a global practice that occurs in every country that has interest in blue economy affairs.

The CS added that possessing an assessment report of marine life in the Indian Ocean is important when requesting investors to bring their vessels to Kenya. 

"As a country, we must understand where we are so that when we defend a position, it's based on detailed scientific research," Joho said. 

"It (the assessment) informs us on the licensing regime we use. We will not be able to tell investors to come to Kenya if we don't have an assessment report. It goes beyond counting fish. It is being able to understand the entire eco-system so we can understand the zoning in the ocean," he added. 

Further, the MPs were irate after Joho's team requested an additional Ksh.600 million to complete the first phase of the exercise. They questioned why the team needed more money if the assessment was already done. 

PS Njagi responded to the queries, saying that the exercise occurred in phases and the amount would go to completing the remaining part. 

She explained that the stock assessment will occur in three phases and will be completed in financial year 2025/26, totaling to Ksh.3.6 billion.

"This framework contract is for 3 years. Every year is Ksh.1.2 billion," Njagi said

Despite explaining the importance of the exercise, the MPs expressed their reservations over the value for money in the exercise, saying that the fish industry barely struggles to produce Ksh.50 million annually. 

CS Joho assured the Committee that the industry would have a return on investment once investors come on board.