From patrol boats and ferries to fishing trawlers and offshore support vessels, nearly every craft in Kenyan waters is conceived, constructed, and maintained abroad. Establishing a domestic boat-building industry is, therefore, a fundamental step toward reclaiming agency over the blue economy and grounding maritime growth in homegrown industrial capability. Emerging sectors like offshore energy and subsea cable maintenance will increasingly demand specialized support vessels. If pursued with seriousness and strategic focus, this venture can become a cornerstone of Kenya’s blue economy—transforming maritime aspiration into tangible industrial reality. The goal is clear: to ensure that the vessels plying Kenyan waters increasingly bear the imprint of Kenyan hands, Kenyan skill, and Kenyan vision.

Source: Daily Nation December 30, 2025 18:29 UTC