In a recent parliamentary session, lawmakers expressed their discontent after the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs disclosed it had expended Sh1.6 billion on a fish stock assessment in the Indian Ocean for the 2023/2024 financial year.

The announcement came during a committee meeting where Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and Principal Secretary Betsy Muthoni Njagi presented their report.

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water, and Irrigation, led by Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen, scrutinised the expenditure, questioning the tangible results of the project.

The Ministry had been allocated Sh3.6 billion over three years for the exercise, which commenced on July 1, 2023, and is set to conclude by June 30, 2026, with Sh1.6 billion already used in the first phase.

Tiaty MP William Kamket was particularly critical, querying the justification for the significant budget amidst other national priorities.

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“So you are telling this committee that you were allocated the billions just to count fish in the ocean?” Kamket asked, reflecting broader concerns about the perceived lack of value in the project.

Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi also voiced frustration, highlighting the need for concrete data.

“I am the MP for Mathira and if you ask me how many registered voters are in Mathira I do not need to research, I know because IEBC did its work. He is the person in charge of that assessment. He should give us figures on the report of the last assessment, he does not need to prepare,” Wamumbi stated.

In response to the scrutiny, the Ministry insisted that the assessment is crucial for understanding the broader marine ecosystem and attracting potential investors.

“We will not be able to go to investors and tell them to come to Kenya if we do not have an assessment report. It really goes beyond counting fish. It is being able to understand the entire eco-so we can understand the zoning in the ocean,” explained CS Joho.

Despite these explanations, concerns persisted over the allocation of an additional Sh600 million for the current financial year when previous expenditures had not yet yielded clear outcomes.

Kisumu West MP Roza Buyu questioned, “The question is, if the project is complete and the Sh1.6 billion has already been utilized, why then are we budgeting for another Sh600 million for this year?”

The committee has requested further information and expects the Ministry to return next week with a detailed report on the assessment’s findings.

The ongoing debate underscores the challenge of balancing significant investments in marine research with pressing national needs and transparency demands.