Tourism and blue economy. Malindi will soon be Kenya's "Genoa," that is, the country's marine research hub and especially the home of East Africa's largest aquarium.
Last Friday, the government unveiled a project worth about 700,000 euros to establish Kenya's first Marine Research Center in Malindi. As part of the project, which will be part of the second phase of the town's Blue Economy redevelopment, called "Malindi Marine City," which started in 2019, thanks to joint funding from the British government and the World Bank, is also the construction of a marine aquarium that will cost about 300,000 euros. The entire development program, local media report, was presented by the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism and Wildlife, Kareke Mbiuki, and Member of Parliament during a press conference at the Malindi Marine Park. Mbiuki explained that the leasing of a study center and the construction of the aquarium are part of the government's strategy to boost the tourism sector and promote the blue economy in the country.
The committee surveyed possible proposed sites for the facility.
"We seriously need modern infrastructure, laboratories and well-paid scientists, as the country currently has only seven researchers employed by the government, but we need at least 30," the MP explained to the media.
Marine scientist Mohamed Omar, revealed that Kenya is losing a lot to foreign countries and that paradoxically some of the fish species in some foreign aquariums, for example, the famous one in Dubai, were purchased in Kenya itself. He added that the aquarium will also serve as a research and rescue center for marine life, as Kenya has varieties of marine life that are not studied. "We have so many fish that have not yet been studied and having an aquarium here will help us keep them for studies and then release them into the waters," he said.
No word has yet been released on when work will begin and when it will be completed, or where the complex, which in an early phase of the project to redevelop the waterfront into an amusement and recreation park and fish collection and sorting center for Malindi's boatman community, will be built, was reported between the two facilities, where a small soccer field still stands.