Kilifi, Kenya

Overview

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Social, Environmental, and Financial Impact

Social Impact

(Examples: Jimba Sauti Ya Wa Mama & Maajabu Crab Farming):

Gender and Youth Inclusion: Groups are structured to ensure high participation from women (e.g., Jimba Sauti Ya Wa Mama has 19 women out of 20 members) and youth (e.g., Maajabu Crab Farming involves 12 youth). This creates platforms for marginalized groups in conservation and income generation.
Livelihood Diversification: The projects introduce alternative income streams (crab farming, litter upcycling) which contribute to community development and self-reliance, mitigating the risk of over-dependence on traditional fishing.
Governance and Organization: Support helps groups achieve better internal organization, essential for long-term sustainability and securing permits/buyers.

Environmental Impact

(Examples: Jimba Sauti Ya Wa Mama & Chasimba Fishers):

Pollution Reduction: Marine litter collection activities directly improve the cleanliness of the coastal environment and focus on upcycling, reducing waste sent to landfills or the ocean.
Resource Management: By assisting groups like Chasimba Fishers in securing fishing permits and adhering to compliance, OHA supports regulated and more sustainable exploitation of marine resources (like ECRL).

Financial Impact

Secured Markets/Permits: Groups like Chasimba Fishers have successfully secured an ECRL buyer and necessary commercial permits, providing a stable, high-value income source.
Infrastructure Investment: Groups like Maajabu Crab Farming have invested in essential equipment (109 crab cages) to scale their operations.
Growth Potential: While some groups (like Jimba Sauti Ya Wa Mama and Maajabu Crab Farming) are early-stage and have yet to generate significant revenue, the OHA support establishes the foundational capacity, infrastructure, and governance needed for future revenue generation and growth.

About Kilifi

Kilifi is a coastal county in Kenya, known for its beautiful creek, beaches, and rich Swahili cultural history, located north of Mombasa. The region’s landscape is characterized by its long Indian Ocean coastline, mangrove forests, and coral reefs, which support diverse marine ecosystems.

The economy in the coastal and rural areas is primarily driven by subsistence agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Kilifi faces unique pressures from climate change, poverty, and challenges related to limited infrastructure.

Specific Challenges Faced

The Kilifi Seascape faces multiple overlapping challenges:

Poverty and Food Insecurity

Economic Gaps: Many coastal and rural households struggle with low-income generating opportunities, leading to systemic poverty.
Resource Scarcity: Food insecurity is common, driven by irregular rainfall, poor soils, and over-reliance on subsistence fishing and farming.

Climate Change & Health

Vulnerability: Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and significant coastal erosion severely disrupt livelihoods, particularly fishing and agriculture.
Disease and Water: A high prevalence of malaria and waterborne infections strains health services, compounded by a lack of clean, reliable water sources.

Education and Digital Access

Literacy Gaps: Limited access to quality education and digital tools (IT) hinders the development of skills necessary for modern employment.
Demographic Impact: These barriers disproportionately affect women and youth, limiting their participation in the blue economy.

OHA Activities in the Region (Blue Economy Incubation)

OceanHub Africa’s intervention in Kilifi focuses on fostering community-led blue economy initiatives, primarily through marine litter management, crab farming, and sustainable fishing. OHA supported 8 groups in total, providing tailored coaching and mentoring.

Core Activities

Capacity Building & Mentoring: Each group received 9 hours of tailored online coaching and mentoring from OHA strategists over four months.
Marine Litter Management: Supporting groups like Jimba Sauti Ya Wa Mama in initiating litter collection (plastic and glass) with a long-term vision of upcycling.
Sustainable Aquaculture: Supporting groups like Maajabu Crab Farming in establishing crab fattening projects, including securing cages and internal governance.
Market Access: Supporting fishing co-operatives like Chasimba Fishers to secure necessary permits and find reliable buyers for high-value products like East Coast Rock Lobster (ECRL).