Hope for Regional Domination as Mtongwe Shipyard is Complete

Post by : Ann Njambuya

In the past Kenya was a regional power house , a move that made other east and central African countries depend on us for most things. There was a time when that regional dominance dwindled but the jubilee government has put efforts in place to ensure that the country goes back to its rightful place at the top.

In order for this to happen the government has invested heavily in the country’s infrastructure raging from, airports, seaports, roads, railways and now the one in a kind shipyard.

One of a Kind

The Mtongwe shipyard is a one of a kind shipyard that includes a slipway. A slipway is used to lift ships out of the sea. The shipyard will be used by the navy to construct, repair, build and maintain ships in the region a move that will put Kenya in a map with other ship building countries like China and South Korea.

In addition to the Mtongwe Shipyard, a marine academy has be set up in Kisumu. The academy will provide valuable human resource that will be used in the shipyard.

Offices of the kenya shipyards company. a company that seeks to make kenya a regional powerhouse in the maritime sector. they have built a shipyard that is one of a kind in East and Central Africa.

Shipping Industry

With the rise of the shipping industry in Africa according to UNCTAD report. Kenya seems to have invested in the right place.

With such investments especially in the shipping and sea, Kenya is keen on rising above the regional mantle to a more continental role that will in turn help us achieve a more balanced economy.

The government has been utilising the military in various sections of the economy that seemed to have been heading in the wrong direction. Such sections that have been militarised include the Nairobi metropolitan services, the Kenya meat commission the shipyard in Mtongwe and Kisumu.

This efforts to use the military seem to have paid off since all these sectors have been improving greatly since they were handed over to the military. However this should be observed to avoid a complete Military takeover of all government institutions.

The yard will have a capacity of holding ships that are up 150 metres long.

The President is expected to officially open the ship yard this month. With full operations,the yard is expected to provide employment to very many Kenyans directly or indirectly through support industries.