Angry CS Joho Blasts KEMFRI, Promise to Overhaul Management Leadership

By Mbungu Harrison

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs cabinet secretary Hassan Ali Joho has hinted of a major shake-up of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMFRI).

The CS disclosed that a new top leadership team would be appointed soon to manage the government marine research institution.

This move, he says, is part of broader efforts to revitalise the government-funded marine research body, which is headquartered in Mombasa County.

“I have a problem with this KEMFRI fellowship, and that’s why there is going to be a new leader soon. We will appointed someone new soon because it must not end without research. ‘Shida Yao Hawa watu ni publishing tu, wanapublish research kubwa’ then it ends up in shelves,” he alleged visibly not amused.

He criticized KEMFRI for producing numerous scientific reports that lacked real economic value for coastal communities without giving evidence of his claims.

Speaking in Mombasa during a meeting with local fishermen under the Beach Management Units (BMU) network, the CS expressed frustration over what he termed as “wasted resources” and “shelved reports” that fail to benefit their intended recipients who were local fishermen.

“KEMFRI should have deliberate programs that support fishermen economically. You should go beyond just writing reports. Some of these reports are gathering dust on the shelves, yet the people meant to benefit from them are suffering. We must get serious,” he said.

The secretary questioned the tangible impact of KEMFRI’s multi-billion shilling budget allocations, emphasizing the need for more community-driven initiatives.

He challenged the institute to directly engage and empower fishing communities through practical, on-the-ground programs.

“They do so huge wonderful research, documented well, then you take it to oxford university. All the research studies must have money component. You must stop the act of staying in cold offices. You must engage the people and teach them ways of making money.”

According to him the government is ready to give them money if they show tangible project impacting the real grassroots population.

KEMFRI is mandated to conduct research to support sustainable use of marine and fisheries resources, but Joho’s remarks underscore growing concern over the disconnect between research outputs and grassroots implementation.