KMFRI was established to conduct research on aquatic systems covering both marine and freshwater. The Institute has grown from staff strength of two Research Scientists at inception to the current 122 scientists. KMFRI’s approved staff establishment stands at 1,350 employees but the current staffing position is 839 for both research and support staff which creates a gap of 511 employees. The current staffing levels are way below the required staff to meet the expected increasing demand ...read more
for research. During the period 2016-2020, it is proposed that KMFRI be strengthened and reorganized with a view to improving service delivery. KMFRI infrastructure capacity has also expanded from two research stations based in Mombasa and Kisumu with acquisition of seven additional stations.
KMFRI headquarters is based in Mombasa, with eight (8) other stations at Kisumu, Turkana, Baringo, Naivasha, Sagana, Kegati, Sangoro and Nairobi. The Institute has two Research Centres based in Mombasa and Kisumu. The Mombasa Centre coordinates Ocean and Coastal Systems Research in the coastal hinterlands, the territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Indian Ocean. As a maritime state, Kenya has proclaimed the 200 nautical miles (nm) EEZ as provided for by UNCLOS and has an ocean area of about 142,000 km2 as per the 200 nm EEZ limit. Kenya has further applied for an extra 150 nm EEZ extension for exploitation of bottom ocean bed resources. This makes a total ocean area of 245,000 km2 which is 42% of her total land area making Kenya a significant maritime state.
The Kisumu Centre coordinates research on Lake Victoria and the other inland water bodies through three stations at Lake Baringo, Lake Turkana and Lake Naivasha, while Sagana Aquaculture Research and Development station coordinates Kegati and Sangoro stations. In addition, a number of field stations exist at Gazi, Lamu, Shimoni and Gogo. This chapter highlights KMFRI’s current organization structure, research programmes and support departments and its role on national development..
