Kenya Shipyards Limited and Tom Mboya University signed an MoU to establish the “KSL Centre of Excellence in Shipbuilding, Repair and Maintenance” to be hosted at the University. The event, which was hosted by the Vice Chancelor Tom Mboya University, Prof Charles Ochola, was graced by Her Excellency Gladys Wanga, Governor of the County Government of Homa Bay, Managing Director Kenya Shipyards Limited, Maj Gen Said M Farah, PS Ministry of Defence representative Mr. Isaac Masinde, Tom Mboya University Board Members among other guests.
This MoU brings together industry and academia to bridge the professional skills gap in the Kenyan job market. The Centre of Excellence will provide a training ground creating a pool of competent professionals with the capacity, knowledge and skills required by the shipbuilding industry. In her speech, the Governor of the County Government of Homa Bay stated, “By leveraging on the academic and research expertise of Tom Mboya University and the shipbuilding and heavy engineering capabilities of Kenya Shipyards Limited, the Center of Excellence will serve as a hub for specialized maritime training, fisheries management, marine engineering and sustainable aquatic resource utilization”.
Kenya Shipyards Limited is mandated to lead and catalyze the development of the new shipbuilding industry with a focus of meeting local demand from Kenya Navy, Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) with maritime assets and other public and private, domestic and regional clients. KSL has proven its potential through the various projects it has been able to successfully execute including the construction of MV Uhuru II wagon ferry, rehabilitation of MV Uhuru I wagon ferry, rehabilitation of Homa Bay Pier, dredging of Mbita Causeway and Kisumu Port among other projects. These projects have significantly had an impact in increasing maritime transport of people and cargo within Kenya and the larger East African Region.
Tom Mboya University is a recognized University distinguished for its teaching, research, and innovation. In line with its vision, the University has distinguished itself by founding its educational niche as the Blue Economy therefore making the University suitable as a Center of Excellence for Shipbuilding Repair and Maintenance. As emphasized by the Managing Director Kenya Shipyards Limited, the spirit and output of this Centre will be powered by an alliance of the two institutions with the aim to support the operations of the shipbuilding industry by providing critical human resource to meet the expanding mandate to design, build, maintain, refit and repair ships and other maritime vessels on Kenya’s inland and territorial waters and beyond.
The benefits of the MoU between Kenya Shipyards Limited and Tom Mboya University include capacity building, knowledge transfer, job creation, increased shipbuilding related activities, improved maritime transport & port management and improved maritime safety. This will set Kenya ahead in the realization of the Blue Economy and its potential.