An Evaluation of Maritime Security Strategies in Promoting Blue Economy in the Coastal Region: A Case Study of Mombasa County, Kenya

The Kenya government adopted the Blue Economy concept to spearhead the Big Four Agenda in order to compliment other economic pillars for national prosperity. However, maritime threats remain a security concern in the realization of blue economy benefits. The purpose of the study was to explore the influence maritime security strategies and their implications on blue economy in Mombasa County, Kenya. The study aimed to interrogate the influence of maritime security strategies in promoting blue economy in the coastal region, Mombasa County. It was anchored on three objectives; to establish the key maritime threats, examine the effects of maritime policing frameworks and establish the influence of human security on blue economy. The study was grounded on the stakeholder theory and carried out in four sub counties in Mombasa County. The target population comprised of public and private security agencies, ship handlers, Kenya Port Authority administrators, Fisheries department officials and Beach Management Units (BMU) representatives, County and Local Community Representatives. Godden (2004) determination of sample size was used to arrive at a size of 138 respondents. The study used stratified and purposive sampling methods to achieve the desired representations and the research tools were pilot tested in Shimoni, Kwale County. Collected data was presented using graphs, tables and pie charts. Descriptive and inferential statistics methods used for data analysis while frequencies, correlation and regression models were used to establish the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The results indicated that there was a positive and statistically significant influence of all the three independent variable (key maritime threats (β = 0.2591, p=0.000), policing framework (β = 0.138, p=0.012); and human security (β = 0.143, p=0.028) on blue economy in Kenya. The study concludes that there is a positive and statistically significant influence of key maritime threats, policing framework and human security on blue economy in Kenya. Some of the study recommendations includes maritime security stakeholders and practitioners should develop homegrown, multi-sectoral and comprehensive strategies to address key maritime threats; harmonization of policing frameworks strategies to link development and the blue economy transformation; there is need to address human security issues such as poverty, lack of alternative livelihoods through empowerment programs and initiatives of coastal communities to solve some of the root causes of maritime insecurity: the government to formulate innovative strategies on maritime security and blue economy policies to encourage local and foreign investments into the blue economy through tax and non-tax incentives, tax exemption, investment tax allowance as well as grants.