By John Kariuki
Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) President Erick Rutto today met with youth and women entrepreneurs in the fishing sector during a training session held in Homa Bay. The program titled "Women and Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries Through Inclusive Market Access – Digital Solutions in Fish Value Chain" is designed to address the systemic barriers that women and youth face within the fisheries industry.
President Rutto emphasized that the initiative uses a market systems development approach to unlock the vast potential of fish products especially value-added processed fish to drive growth in regional trade. Funded by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by TradeMark Africa the program also seeks to strengthen collaboration among producers, traders, and exporters while improving access to markets, finance, and critical support services.
During the session participants highlighted key challenges such as limited access to fishing gear, insufficient training, insecurity along the Kenya Uganda border, and declining fish harvests. In response, Dr. Rutto shared KNCCI’s ongoing interventions including financial literacy training, sector-specific capacity building, and robust policy advocacy aimed at creating an enabling environment for these entrepreneurs.
He further urged more businesses to join KNCCI to amplify their collective voice and benefit from the chamber’s support in navigating the complex economic landscape.
This initiative represents a significant stride toward inclusive economic empowerment, positioning women and youth at the forefront of Kenya’s fisheries value chain transformation.
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