KMA Join Hands with NITA to Uplift Youths and Women Livelihoods

By Harrison Kivisu and Mwakwaya Raymond

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The government has roll out women and youth empowerment programs across national industrial training Authority (NITA) institutions to develop labour skills and broaden grassroots economies.

Speaking in Mombasa on October 2, 2024, state department of maritime and shipping principal secretary Geoffrey Kaituko said government was committed to supporting such programs aligned to the government’s Bottom up economic transformation agenda.

The PS made the remarks when issuing certificates to over 298 NITA trainees who had completed a three month empowerment training under Project ELEA, sponsored by Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA).

“We want to improve on ELEA project first and broaden it, and later when we get more funding we will talk with NITA and see if we can replicate this kind of idea in other institutions in the country,” he said.

The pilot program targets to train over 500 youth and women in Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu and Turkana counties on tailoring and dressmaking of life jackets to spur blue economy sector.

“This is the pilot phase and we expect them to go out and create jobs for themselves or get employed.”

On his part, labour principal secretary Shadrack Mwadime, through a speech read on his behalf said the program had opened a new chapter of independence opportunity and empowerment to the graduants.

“Project ELEA is not just a training program, it has offered the trainees an opportunity to depend on themselves by uplifting their lives and also opening a window for economic growth,” he said.

KMA acting director general Eng Julius Koech termed the project as a game changer in uplifting lives of communities as well as contribution to the growth of blue economy sector.

“Project ELEA aligns seamlessly with out government bottom up transformation agenda, we are not only creating economic opportunities we are also ensuring there is gender equality and sustainable practice within our industries,” he said.

He added that some of the jackets made would be sold to users of the ocean and lake water bodies to provide safety.

At least 300,000 jackets have been made during the first training.

The projects that will be undertaken by Kenyan youth and women through cottage industries named ‘Project Elea” seeks to create livelihoods for them.

Project Elea is aimed at boosting the manufacturing and availability of affordable and high quality locally made life jackets to enhance maritime safety compliance in the country.

The authority’s Project Elea is being implemented under four phases with Phase 1 focusing on vocational skills training and prototype production through an already established collaboration framework with NITA.

The authority is sponsoring 500 youth and women to undertake vocational skills training and NITA certification in tailoring, embroidery and garment design to empower them to make lifejackets.

The Project Elea also involves the marketing and supply of lifejackets where the maritime agency will assist beneficiary SACCOs in publicizing and supplying lifejackets within the country and the East Africa region. 

The beneficiaries for the project have a minimum of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education mean grade of ‘D’ with prior learning and experience in tailoring and between the ages of 18-25 years. 

The KMA estimates that over 20,000 small vessels are operating and engaged in socio-economic activities along the Kenyan coast and territorial waters such as Lakes Victoria, Turkana, Naivasha, Baringo and Nakuru, but lack essential safety gadgets.

Marine casualties are a major challenge in upholding maritime safety on Kenyan navigable waters despite KMA’s relentless efforts to ensure boat owners and operators comply with vessel and passenger safety regulations. 

The vessel owners cite both the unavailability of standard quality lifejackets in the local market and the high cost of acquiring quality imported life jackets.

Some of KMA’s statutory functions include enforcing the safety of shipping including compliance withships and passengers’ safety standards, conducting regular inspection of vessels to ensure maritime safety and regulating shipping in the inland waterways including the safety of navigation.