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Mission
Catalyze economic growth of Kenya’s coast regional counties.
Our Vision
A regional economy that creates wealth and shared prosperity for its communities.
“These are rationalized & Sequenced Projects and Programs aimed at Unlocking Value Chains in various sectors with a view to creating prosperous and resilient coastal communities”
In partnership with The European Union, The Government of Kenya and Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) economic bloc “Commonwealth” to advance the development of Jumuiya 2030 regional economic blueprint and support implementation of Kenya’s Blue Economy agenda.
The Kenyan
Coast
The Kenyan Coastal region, famously known in Swahili as Mkoa wa Pwani along the Indian Ocean, was one of Kenya’s eight provinces before the devolution. The region comprises of the Indian Ocean coastal strip which embraces Lamu, Kilifi and Mombasa to the North and Kwale to the South and moves inland to cover Tana River on one end and extends to Taita Taveta County. The region borders Garissa, Makueni and Kajiado Counties.
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Universities
There are 3 national Universities, across the region: Taita Taveta University in Taita Taveta County, Technical University of Mombasa in Mombasa County and Pwani University in Kilifi County. All the major universities in Kenya have campuses in Mombasa City.
The Kenyan Coast
With the port of Mombasa, harbored in the region, this is the gateway to the East African inland.
The region has a balanced and diversified economy across unique settings, from rural to urban environments and everything in between. The Coastal region is a blue economy melting pot with a unique blend of maritime and general trade, agriculture- fisheries, horticulture, livestock and largescale farming, heritage, tourism from the sea and the famous Tsavo Park.
With the vast shared resources, a unique culture and a common historical foundation, there is a lot of untapped potential across all sectors from manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, extractives, real estate, among others.
This brings forth an opportunity to harness these through a singular and structured approach by the formation of an economic block that will market the economic assets and opportunities of the Coastal region and to create partnerships to lead to the socio economic transformation of the region and position it as the best and most ideal destination for those who wish for those who wish to live, invest and visit.
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Economic
Outlook
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GDP Breakdown
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Mombasa
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Kilifi
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Kwale
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Tana River
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Lamu
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Taita Taveta
The Gross County Product Report (GCP 2019) provides for the first time published estimated measure of each county’s contribution to Kenya’s GDP (County GDP) for the year 2017. During that year, the six coastal counties contributed an estimated KES0.7 trillion, equivalent to 9% of national GDP, out of which Mombasa contributed 4%, Kwale (1%), Kilifi (2%), Tana River (0.4%), Lamu (0.4%) and Taita Taveta (1%).
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Despite lower coastal counties’ contribution to national GDP, according to the National Spatial Planning (NSP) 2015-2045, the coastal region has the highest potential for Blue Economy and agribusiness value chains related growth. At the moment, Kenya's Blue Economy is estimated to be contributing about Kes 44 billion (approximately €375 million) to the GDP (about 1%). To underscore the NSP 2045, a significant majority of the national government’s Big four agenda (Health, Housing, Food Security and Manufacturing) as well as the Vision 2030 MTP III Projects, are all located or depend on the JKP (6) Counties’ trade and logistics economic cluster for growth. Yet, the potential for sustained, inclusive and sustainable growth is not fully exploited in a number of areas including sectors that have a high potential for food security, job creation and economic growth (such as fisheries and aquaculture as well as coastal tourism).
The Kenyan
Coastal
Counties
Mombasa
Regional competitiveness and comparative advantage
- Blue Economy
- Manufacturing & SEZs
- Technical University of Mombasa
- Port & Logistics
Mombasa
The Port City County
Mombasa County is synonymous with the Coast. Its capital and the only city in the county is Mombasa. It is the smallest county in Kenya with a population of 950,000 and covering an area of 229.7 km2 excluding 65 km2 of water mass. The county is situated in the south eastern part of the former Coast Province. It borders Kilifi County to the north, Kwale County to the south west and the Indian Ocean to the east. Administratively, the county is divided into seven divisions, eighteen locations and thirty sub-locations.
The county lies between latitudes 3°56’ and 4°10’ south of the equator and longitudes 39°34’ and 39°46’ east.
Mombasa is an urban city county and for this reason there is a large population of both local and immigrant communities. The local communities include the Mijikenda, Swahili and Kenyan Arabs. The Mijikenda is the largest community in Mombasa county making almost 35% of the total population in the county.
Kwale
Regional competitiveness and comparative advantage
- Blue Economy
- Manufacturing & SEZs
- Tourism Resort City
- Off-shore Oil & Gas Exploration
- Port & Logistics
Kwale
The County of White sands
Kwale County is a county in the former Coast Province of Kenya. Its capital is Kwale, although Ukunda is the largest town. Kwale county has an estimated population of 649,931.
Kwale is mainly an inland county, but it has coastline south of Mombasa. Diani Beach is part of the Msambweni division. Shimba Hills National Reserve and Mwaluganje elephant sanctuary are other attractions in the county.
Main ethnic communities in the county include the Digo and Duruma clans of the larger Mijikenda tribe and also a significant presence of the Kamba tribe.
Kilifi
Regional competitiveness and comparative advantage
- Blue Economy
- Extractives
- Manufacturing & SEZs
- Tourism Resort City
- Agribusiness
- Pwani University
Kilifi
The Leisure County
The County capital is Kilifi and its largest town is Malindi. The county has a population of 1,109,735. It covers an area of 12,245.90 km2 (4,728.17 sq mi). The county is located north and northeast of Mombasa.
Tourism and fishing in Kilifi are major economic activities due to its proximity to the Indian Ocean. The county has some of the best beaches and popular resorts and hotels. Other attractions include historical sites such as the Mnarani ruins that date back to between the fourteenth and seventeenth century.
The county has a strong industrial sector with the Mabati Rolling Mill and the Athi River Cement Factory contributing heavily to the region’s economy both in employment provision and income generation.
Opportunities exist in agriculture, particularly dairy and crop farming thanks to fertile soils and a good weather pattern. The county had a successful cashew nut milling industry and opportunities exist in its revival
Tana River
Regional competitiveness and comparative advantage
- Agribusiness
- Textile
- Livestock Value Chain
- Blue Economy
Tana River
The Riverine County
Tana River County is named after the Tana River, the largest river in Kenya. It has an area of 35,375.8 square kilometers (13,658.7 sq mi) and a population of 240,075. The capital and largest town is Hola, sometimes known as Galole.
The major ethnic groups are the Pokomo, many of whom are farmers, and the Orma, Wardey and Gadsan. The county is generally dry and prone to drought. Rainfall is erratic, with rainy seasons in March–May and October–December. Flooding is also a regular problem, caused by heavy rainfall in upstream areas of the Tana River.
Tana River County comprises several areas of forest, woodland and grassland.
Lamu
Regional competitiveness and comparative advantage
- Blue Economy
- Manufacturing & SEZs
- Tourism Resort City
- Off-shore Oil & Gas Exploration
- Port & Logistics
Lamu
The Heritage County
Lamu County borders Tana River County in the southwest, Garissa County to the north, Republic of Somalia to the northeast and the Indian Ocean to the South. With a population of 102,000, it lies 1° 40’ and 2° 30’south and longitude 40° 15’ and 40° 38’south. The County has a land surface of 6,273.1 km that include the mainland and over 65 islands that form the Lamu Archipelago. The total length of the coastline is 130 km while land water mass area stands at 308 km. There are extensive mangrove forests in the area.
The main economic activities in the county include crop production, livestock production, fisheries, tourism and mining, most notably quarrying. Among the challenges facing Lamu is population growth owing to migration into Lamu from other parts of the country, fueled partly by the anticipated opportunities accruing from the Lamu Port South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor. Other challenges include landlessness and poor land management, insufficient social services such as healthcare and education, inadequate supply of piped and fresh water, under-developed infrastructure, and food insecurity.
Taita Taveta
Regional competitiveness and comparative advantage
- Mining
- Agribusiness
- Livestock Value Chain
- Tourism (Tsavo)
- Taita Taveta University
- Blue Economy
Taita Taveta
The County of Hidden Treasures
Taita–Taveta County lies approximately 150 km northwest of Mombasa and 300 km southeast of Nairobi. The capital, nominally, is in Mwatate town but county government offices are in Wundanyi.
The population of the county is 300,000 persons with population densities ranging from 3 persons per km2 to more than 800 persons per km2. This is due to the varied rainfall and terrain with the lower zones receiving an average 440 mm of rain per annum and the highland areas receiving up to 1,900 mm of rain. The county ranges in altitude from 500 m above sea level to 2,228 m at Vuria Peak, which is the county’s highest point.
The county covers an area of 17,083.9 km2, of which 62% or 11,100 km2, is within Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks. The remaining 5,876 km2 is occupied by small scale farms, ranches, sisal estates, water bodies (such as Lakes Chala and Jipe in Taveta and Mzima springs), and the hilltop forests.
The lowland areas of the county outside the national parks consist of farms, ranches, estates, and wildlife sanctuaries. The county has approximately 25 ranches. The main land use in the ranches is cattle grazing. The three operating sisal estates of the district are the Teita Sisal Estate, Voi Sisal Estate and Taveta Sisal Estate. Many ranches have ventured into wildlife tourism and conservation. The Taita Hills and Saltlick Lodges sanctuary is among the well-known tourism attractions in Taita Taveta.
The Taita Hills forest hold a unique biodiversity with 13 taxa of plants and 9 taxa of animals found only in the Taita Hills and nowhere else in the world. In addition, 22 plant species found in the Taita Hills forests are typical of the Eastern Arc forests. Within these beautiful indigenous forests, bubbles clean water flowing to the lowland areas catering for both human economic activities and wildlife.
Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani Apex
Hon Ali Hassan Joho
Mombasa Governor
HON SALIM MVURYA
KWALE GOVERNOR
HON JEFFAH KINGI
KILIFI GOVERNOR
HON DADHO GODHANA
TANA RIVER GOVERNOR
HON FAHIM TWAHA
LAMU GOVERNOR
HON GRANTON SAMBOJA
TAITA TAVETA GOVERNOR
Sea and land
of Opportunities
In 2010, the Constitution of Kenya created a decentralized system of government by dividing the country into 47 counties, to which both political power and government functions are devolved. According to the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, devolved functions include fisheries, solid waste management, local tourism, county planning and management among others. Further, Kenya is in the process of reviving the idea of forming regional economic blocs giving a prominent role to the Coastal Counties Economic Bloc.
Sea and land of Opportunities
The six coastal counties in Kenya - Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tama River Lamu and Taita Taveta - have formed the Coastal Counties Economic Bloc "Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP)" in 2015.
The partnership was sealed through a cooperation agreement between the six county governments as well as through a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Kilifi Pwani University, Technical University of Mombasa and Taita Taveta University College.
The Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) is Kenya’s coast regional counties Economic Development Organization representing Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta. With the vast shared resources, a unique common historical foundation in culture and heritage; the Mission of Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) is to catalyze economic growth of Kenya’s coast regional counties. Our Vision is of a Kenya’s coast regional counties economy that creates wealth and shared prosperity for its communities.
Implementation of the Jumuiya’s regional economic agenda is managed by the Governor’s Apex, the Sector Council, Six Sector Working Groups, and the Secretariat.
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Our
Aspirations
JKP aspires to be a social Innovation partnership network focused on enabling the Workforce and the MSMEs. The vision is aimed at changing the story of the Coast region by transforming the region into a high middle-income regional population with a special focus on the youth and women through employment and wealth creation.
This is through the creation of a workforce and an MSME incubator that seeks to create employment and wealth and the identification and creation of Regional Flagship Projects phased for high impact delivery.
This shall be anchored by A PPP special purpose vehicle to catalyze social impact investments.
The JKP
Secretariat
JKP initiatives are managed and coordinated by a Secretariat with technical committees and professional experts drawn from the six county governments, the three universities and private sector. The secretariat is hosted by the Technical University of Mombasa The broad organizational structure of Jumuiya Ya Kaunti za Pwani comprises of the Board of Governors from the various member Counties. To support the bringing to life of the Jumuiya agenda, there is a Structured and inclusive Sector Consultative Platform run by a Secretariat headed by a Chief Executive Officer. Within the Secretariat are the Steering Committee and Sector working groups.
The Secretariat is a repository of data that defines and describes the Coastal region. We have a bird’s eye view of the region’s opportunities, needs and have clearly defined the potential.
The Secretariat’s role is to have a broad view understanding of the region and creating the enabling environment that will ensure a platform for socioeconomic development of the region and thereby Changing the story of the region.
Practise
Areas for JKP
We seek to create an environment that is unified in purpose and that brings together all the stakeholders – regional leadership, county, national, Development Partners, Private Sector & Academia with a view to create synergies for fulfilling the lofty ambitions of our mandate. Our modus operandi is anchored on the triple helix model where we seek to tap synergies from Academia, Government and the Private sector.
At the Jumuiya Ya Kaunti Za Pwani we are guided and defined by our practice areas and these fall under 4 main thematic areas:
Coordination
- Socio-political & regional economic development cooperation
- Unified Advocacy and Lobbying
- Coordination through Secretariat and Sector Working Groups.
Policies
- Jumuiya 2030 – Regional Economic Blueprint / Jumuiya 10
- Harmonization of regional Sector plans & policies
Promotion
- Sea-land of opportunities (assets)
- Investment & Tourism Destination
Investments
- Unlocking Value Chains within the 14 cross cutting sectors & facilitating PPP’s and participation of local MSMEs / Shared Prosperity (County Invesco’s & Jumuiya Fund SPVs – creating employment and wealth)
- Socio-economic development Bankable Projects
Achieving
We seek to unlock the value chain through a synergistic approach which guides us in determining our focus areas. This is through harnessing a unified purpose guided by input and participation from the regional leadership, County and national Government, Development Partners, Private Sector & Academia: Triple Helix.
We develop partnerships on Regional Economic development Projects bringing together Communities, Counties and National Governments, Development Partners & Investor.
We have Harmonized Regional Policy Framework (CIDPs /MTP) across the member counties enabling us to have rationalized & Sequenced Projects/Programs thereby Unlocking Value Chains in various sectors.
Through this approach we have rationalized 10 JKP Cross-cutting Sectors, NAMED THE JUMUIYA 10 aimed at creating prosperous and resilient coastal communities of JKP region enjoying high quality of life through improved economic and social well-being
The Jumuiya 10
Building
Sustainable
Partnerships
Blue Economy
Building Strategic and Sustainable Partnerships for Changing the Story in the Coastal Region
The EU Delegation to Kenya is developing a coastal urban development project under the Regional Indicative Programme between the European Union and Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.
In partnership with the Government of Kenya, and the six coast regional counties (Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani), the Union has been developing a EUR 25Million Go Blue Project.
In partnership with the Government of Kenya, and the six coast regional counties (Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani), the Union has been developing a EUR 25Million Go Blue Project.
building strategic and sustainable partnerships for changing the story in the Kenyan Coast region
This is a coastal urban development project under 11th EDF between European Union and Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Priority area 2-E: Regional economic integration - “Development of Coastal Urban Areas – Red Sea Economic Cooperation”.
The overall objective is supporting inclusive and sustainable development in coastal cities and ports in the Horn of Africa.
The overarching stakeholder for Go Blue is the six coastal counties, national government’s Ministry of Devolution, Ministry of National Planning, Kenya Coast Guard and the Blue Economy Secretariat in the Presidency.
Go Blue is implemented in partnership with Kenya’s coastal counties’ economic development agency, Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) economic bloc “Commonwealth”
The EU Delegation to Kenya in partnership with JKP Secretariat intends to advance the development of Jumuiya 2030 regional economic blueprint and support implementation of Kenya’s Blue Economy agenda outlined in the Kenya Vision 2030 Medium Term Plan III (2018 – 2022).
Therefore, the overall objective of Go Blue Project, is to enhance the effectiveness and impact of EU development cooperation in coastal urban development in partnership with JKP and the national government.
Go Blue
Go Blue is a result of a consultative process between EU Member States in-country and all Kenya’s key stakeholders; culminating into presentations at the sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi, 2018, as well as the 1st Jumuiya Agribusiness & Blue Economy Investment Conference in Mombasa, (preconference to SBEC). JKP in partnership with EU, FAO, USAID-UKAID AHADI, Kenya Ports Authority and Trademark East Africa initiated the “Changing the Story” social innovation partnership network to collaborate in unlocking the economic potential of the region through innovation and investment partnerships in 14 cross-cutting sector value chains. The “Go Blue” project, endorsed as an anchor initiative for “Changing the Story’’, was presented to the conference by the EU Delegation in Kenya.
Key implementing partners to the project are JKP Secretariat /Technical University of Mombasa, Portugal, Italy, Germany, France and the United Nations (UN Habitat, UNEP, UNODC), each with specific responsibility of interlinked component.
Expected Outcomes of the Go Blue Project
The project is designed to be implemented in the period 2019 – 2022 with three outcome areas:
- Sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth with job creation and employment impacting coastal urban centers, especially for young people and women;
- Developing and mainstreaming an integrated approach to sea-land planning and management in coastal urban centers and their marine environment, in a participatory and inclusive manner, especially for young people and women, in direct connection to sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and coastal tourism as well as climate change mitigation;
- Enhancing maritime governance through effective and integrated maritime law enforcement hence contributing to global security and creating a favorable environment for the economic growth of the region and beyond.
Land Banking
THE JUMUIYA YA KAUNTI ZA PWANI FAO ONE MILLION ACRE PROJECT
In partnership with FAO, The Jumuiya One Million Acres Project aspires to improve provision of goods and services from agriculture, forest and fisheries in a sustainable manner through “improved equitable access to land and natural resources for food security and socio-economic development”.
The ambition is to enable more inclusive and efficient food and agricultural systems at the local levels.
THE JUMUIYA YA KAUNTI ZA PWANI SAFARICOM MATERNAL HEALTHCARE FUNDRAISING PARTNERSHIP
Specifically, JOMAP seeks to Optimize land –use planning and actual land use in the JKP counties through the adoption of evidence-based methodologies.
The project will strengthen the role of the respective county governments and other Key stakeholders (including women and youth) in land –use planning and actual land-use decisions The project seeks to formalize the process of participatory land-use planning and actual land-use through contractual agreements
Education
THE JUMUIYA YA KAUNTI ZA PWANI GENERATION KENYA JUMUIYA INNOVATION LAB PARTNERSHIP
JKP aspires to be a social Innovation partnership network focused on enabling the Workforce and the MSMEs.
This is aimed at transforming the region into a high middle-income regional population with a special focus on the youth and women through employment and wealth creation.
Generation core mission is to empower young people to build thriving, sustainable careers and on the other hand provide employers the highly skilled, motivated talent they need.
THE JUMUIYA YA KAUNTI ZA PWANI GENERATION KENYA PARTNERSHIP
In this regard, they have partnered to achieve this through the creation of a workforce and an MSME incubator - The Jumuiya Innovation Lab - that seeks to create employment and wealth.
The value of this common interest and ambition is to reduce the unemployment rate in the region and also ensure that the industries are serviced by an enabled and upskilled workforce.
What is more, in view of the fact that the industry has no capacity to absorb all the school leavers, Generation is also in the process of developing curriculum that focuses on building soft skills in particular areas so as to empower the Youth start up their own ventures, MSMEs in a structured way so that they could be future employers.
Generation seeks to have the Governments through JKP participate in this cause so that they can create the enabling infrastructure (material and policy) to ensure the bringing to life the Jumuiya Innovation Lab.
Trade and Industries
DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION FOR CHANGING THE STORY IN THE COASTAL REGION
TradeMark East Africa is developing a Trade and Logistics Cluster programme that seeks to establish a Vision for the Coastal Region based on higher value productive activities and provide a pathway to achieving the necessary structural transformation to higher productivity activities. The project will be developed in partnership with the Government of Kenya, the six Coastal Counties, other development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders.
DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION FOR CHANGING THE STORY IN THE COASTAL REGION
The Coastal Counties faces various development challenges that are further compounded by low factor productivity and reliance of the Coastal economy on primary agricultural production for subsistence and domestic markets. The challenges can only be addressed through a structural change in the coastal economy, shifting the emphasis of production and trade away from low value primary agricultural products towards manufactured goods and services. Increased trade in these sectors will directly impact on poverty in the coastal region and the whole country through the generation of new and better-quality employment opportunities.
The Trade and Logistics Cluster (TLC) programme seeks to establish a Vision for the Coastal region based on higher value productive activities and provide a pathway to achieving the necessary structural transformation to higher productivity activities. The programme will focus on priority sectors with high potential for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Trade and Logistics Cluster
The Trade and Logistics Cluster programme is a result of the Geospatial Planning carried out by TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) in 2016 that identified key growth regions and sectors throughout the East African Community region. For Kenya, the study identified the huge growth potential of the Coastal region through identifying binding constraints and creating efficiencies through a coordinated approach, increased domestic and international funding, improved cost effectiveness of programmes and reduced risks to support investments, exports and jobs creation.
A comprehensive Feasibility Study undertaken highlighting the pipeline of investment projects and key value chains for the Coastal region. The Trade and Logistics Cluster programme was presented to the Conference by the TMEA Chief Executive Officer.
The TLC key building blocks are:
- Developing catalytic facilities to attract investors and facilitate trade
- Attracting investors into the Industrial Parks in industrial clusters and sectors with secondary related industries.
- Creating a conducive business environment to attract investments and promote trade
- Developing connectivity through forward and backward linkages to the local economy and regional and global value chains.
Key implementing partners to the project include the Government of Kenya, the six Coastal Counties, other development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders.
Expected Outcomes of the Trade and Logistics Project
The project is being implemented in the period 2019 -2023 with the following outcomes:
- Attracting investments in high value manufacturing sectors with high potential for inclusive growth.
- Contribute to increased exports from the prioritised sectors.
- Inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the Coastal region with job creation especially for the youth and women.
News & Events
Our
Partners
We collaborate with the best in all our focus sectors. The core to our success is through collaborations and partnerships with organizations who share common interests with us and are willing to work together toward the common goals of the Jumuiya. We hold the view that partnerships are strategic when they provide us with the means and methods for advancing our mission.
Building partnerships is one of the core mandates of the Secretariat and we proactively seek to engage partners in all the key sectors we are focused on.
Jumuiya Ya Kaunti Za Pwani Secretariat
Tom Mboya St. Mombasa Kenya | P.O Box 90420 – 80100 |
Phone: +254777101115 | Email: secretariat@jumuiya.org | Website: www.jumuiya.org
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