Mounting frustration is boiling over among Kenya’s youth as delays and alleged mismanagement stall key blue economy initiatives that were once hailed as a cornerstone of job creation.
Over 50,000 job opportunities have reportedly been lost, casting a shadow over what was once seen as a transformative sector for the country.
The blue economy — encompassing maritime trade, fishing, shipping, and related industries — was projected to absorb thousands of unemployed youth.
But today, disillusionment is rising amid claims of government inaction, political interference, and systemic corruption.
“The system is completely broken. Those in power benefit while young people remain hopeless,” lamented one maritime jobseeker, echoing the sentiment of many across coastal counties.
Several high-profile opportunities have allegedly been squandered due to internal sabotage and poor coordination between government agencies.
One such case involved an international maritime company that aimed to recruit 140 Kenyans currently working in Middle Eastern hotels, offering salaries of up to $3,000 per month.
The effort was reportedly blocked by officials at the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and the Principal Secretary’s office, forcing the company to withdraw.
In another major setback, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) — one of the world’s largest shipping lines — had committed to offering 10,000 seafarer jobs and 2,000 sea-time training slots annually.
In return, MSC requested a concession to operate Terminal 2 at the Port of Mombasa. The deal was reportedly derailed by government insiders accused of favoring a rival company, Maersk, for personal gain.
The crisis worsened following the dissolution of the Blue Economy Advisory Secretariat, which was previously tasked with overseeing strategic maritime projects. According to former member Stanley Chai, the move was a “major roadblock” that disrupted coordination across institutions.
Maritime analyst Andrew Mwangura warned that progress made under the stewardship of General (Rtd) Samson Mwathethe, former Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, is now at risk of reversal. Mwangura called on the government to avoid interfering with independent agencies such as KMA and the Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA).
At a recent BMA event supported by KMA, over 1,800 CVs were collected from young job seekers. However, insiders revealed that no credible job offers were made — prompting accusations that the event amounted to little more than public relations.
“How can government institutions fall prey to scams? This was either incompetence or deception,” said a former BMA official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Under growing scrutiny, KMA issued a public notice signed by Director General Omae Nyarandi aimed at regulating seafarer recruitment. Key provisions include that only KMA-licensed agents can recruit Kenyan seafarers, licensed agents must not charge recruitment fees and monthly recruitment reports are now mandatory.
KMA will not be liable for placements made by unlicensed agents, he added.
While the move is seen as a step toward formalization, critics argue the timing appears to be reactive and fails to address deeper institutional failures.
Amid the growing crisis, the recent launch of a Nairobi office by Wilhelmsen, a major global maritime company, has brought a ray of hope. However, observers caution that such isolated developments do little to counter the widespread perception that Kenya is squandering its blue economy potential.
With youth unemployment soaring and trust in public institutions eroding, maritime stakeholders are calling on the government to restore expert-led oversight, revive stalled projects, and rebuild credibility in the sector.
“Kenya’s blue economy dream is drifting further out to sea. Unless urgent action is taken, another generation’s hopes will be lost,” warned Mwangura.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
