The Lamu County Government has entered into a landmark collaboration agreement with the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) aimed at strengthening maritime education, research, and community empowerment in support of Kenya’s Blue Economy agenda. The partnership is set to transform coastal communities by prioritizing grassroots empowerment through maritime skills training.
At the heart of the agreement is the mentoring of the Lamu Maritime Training Institute, which will serve as a hub for local youth to acquire practical skills in navigation, fisheries, shipping, and coastal resource management. The initiative adopts a Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) approach, ensuring learners gain hands-on expertise and access to industrial attachments that directly link them to employment opportunities within the maritime sector.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, TUM Vice Chancellor Prof. Laila Abubakar emphasized that the collaboration goes beyond academic training. She noted that the partnership seeks to uplift coastal communities by building capacity, strengthening livelihoods, and creating sustainable opportunities.
Governor H.E. Issa Timamy underscored the significance of the agreement, stating, “We want to ensure that the people of Lamu are not left behind in Kenya’s Blue Economy journey. This partnership is about empowering our people. By equipping our youth and professionals with maritime skills, we are ensuring that Lamu’s communities are active participants in Kenya’s Blue Economy journey.”
The agreement also provides for the exchange of expertise and resources, enabling TUM lecturers and industry professionals to work directly with grassroots communities in Lamu. By combining academic knowledge with local experience, the initiative aims to establish a sustainable model of maritime education that is both globally compliant and locally relevant.
Community leaders and youth representatives welcomed the collaboration, noting that equipping young people with maritime skills will help reduce unemployment, strengthen local livelihoods, and position Lamu as a key player in East Africa’s maritime sector. One youth representative described the agreement as a beacon of hope, stating, “We want our youth to have skills that connect them to jobs in fisheries, shipping, and coastal management. This agreement gives us hope for a brighter future.”
This collaboration signals a deliberate shift toward inclusive development, where grassroots communities are not merely beneficiaries but active partners in advancing Kenya’s Blue Economy agenda.
The implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be overseen by the Director of the TUM Institute of Maritime and Seafaring Studies, Capt. Talib Mohammed, and Hon. Sabrina Mkare Jefwa, CECM for the Department of Fisheries, Blue Economy, Livestock and Cooperatives Development.
