Challenges and prospects of interagency coordination in promoting and sustaining Africa’s blue economy: case study of Kenya; 2010 - 2018.

Abstract

The main objective of this research study was to establish the challenges and prospects of interagency coordination in promoting and sustaining Africa’s Blue Economy: case study of Kenya; 2010 – 2018. This study therefore focused on the following objectives; to examine and analyze the utilization of the Blue economy in the implementation of Africa’s economic development agenda, to examine and analyze the utilization of the Blue economy in the realization of Kenya’s development agenda as well as to examine the challenges and prospects of interagency coordination in promoting and sustaining Kenya’s Blue Economy. The study adopted a descriptive case study. The primary data was analyzed and using SSPS. Consequently, findings were deduced based on the challenges and prospects of interagency coordination in promoting and sustaining Africa’s Blue Economy. As a policy alternative for member states, Africa's Blue Economy is gaining momentum in development circles. Africa has developed blue economy strategies and policy frameworks but many Member States are yet to develop a comprehensive blue economy-based structure to their economies. Utilization of the Blue Economy in the implementation of Africa’s economic development agenda, could be addressed through harnessing trade, investments, and technology. The Blue Economy requires the development of knowledge and best practices through the introduction of sustainable development approaches to the use of natural resources. Different prospects exist for regional cooperation and coordination in the field of maritime environmental management, given that regional political goodwill exists. It is necessary to evaluate and re-evaluate the roles of different actors in the implementation of the Blue Economy throughout the various stages. Governments could play a more proactive role in kick starting a given industry in some sectors, in addition to providing policy, legal and regulatory frameworks and incentives to attract private sector investment into the blue industries. Kenya has immense potential if it asserts economic supremacy over its oceans, seas and inland waters. In utilizing the marine resources, multisector collaboration and coordination will be needed. The study recommends that there should be strong political goodwill and support to achieve the objectives of Kenya’s Blue Economy. The complex challenges and variety of maritime issues facing Kenya require policymakers to develop an all-inclusive and integrated mechanism of managing the maritime realm of the nation