Alarm As Coast Guard Runs With Only 350 Officers Instead Of 1,425

The National Assembly’s Administration and Internal Security Committee has raised concern over severe understaffing at the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) following an inspection visit to its headquarters at Liwatoni in Mombasa County.

Currently, KCGS has only about 350 officers, far below its approved capacity of 1,425. This leaves a personnel deficit of 1,075 officers, which the committee described as a serious challenge to national maritime security.

KCGS Director General Bruno Shioso told the lawmakers that the shortfall would be addressed once the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) finalize approval of new human resource structures.

“All positions apart from mine are currently contractual and expire within three years,” Mr. Shioso said, noting that the agency is still operating in a transitional phase and needs to shift to a fully autonomous status.

The Director General also highlighted a major operational handicap: while Kenya’s Exclusive Economic Zone extends 200 nautical miles from the coast, the Coast Guard’s current mandate only allows it to patrol up to 24 nautical miles.

“To effectively deal with threats such as illegal fishing, smuggling, and piracy, KCGS urgently needs an Integrated Maritime Surveillance System and faster response boats,” he told the committee.

Committee Vice Chairperson and Saku MP Dido Rasso assured the officers that Parliament would push for the concerns to be addressed through budget and policy support.

The Kenya Coast Guard Service was established in 2018 to safeguard Kenya’s territorial waters, enforce maritime laws, combat pollution, and coordinate rescue missions on the oceans, lakes, and rivers. However, MPs observed that its operational capacity remains limited due to low staffing and inadequate equipment.