President Uhuru Kenyatta will on Monday launch a campaign aimed at encouraging Kenyans to eat more fish, State House spokesman Kanze Dena said on Thursday.
Kanze said that the President will be in Mombasa to launch the Eat More Fish Campaign after he commissions the newly formed Kenya Coast Guard Service.
“This is an initiative by the State Department of Fisheries that seeks to increase dietary intake of fish in the nation,” Dena told journalists in Mombasa.
The launch comes at a time when Kenyan fishermen have been complaining of an influx in Chinese fish in the local market as well as from neighbouring Somalia and Tanzania.
Dena also said that the newly formed Coast Guard Service, to be launched by Uhuru at the headquarters in Liwatoni, will help save Sh10 billion lost through illegal fishing.
Dena said the KCD officers will be drawn from Kenya Defence Forces.
“The service will protect Kenya’s territorial waters from criminals and the exclusive economic zone from illegal fishing,” Dena said during a media briefing at State House, Mombasa.
It will also be responsible for enforcing maritime security and safety, pollution control and sanitation measures as well as the prosecution of offenders.
“Our fishermen should not be worried about threats on the deep sea. We have the best forces in Africa,” she said.
On Wednesday, Uhuru appointed Brigadier Vincent Loonena as the pioneer Director-General.
Loonena, who has a past career spanning 20 years with the Kenya Defence Forces, was managing director Defence Forces Medical Insurance Scheme.
He served in the position for four months.
While in Mombasa, Uhuru will also commission MV Doria, which is the vessel that will be used by the Kenya Coast Guard Service to patrol the Indian Ocean.
The President will also present the Bandari College Charter and commission the Kenya Sea Farers Program.