Government of Kenya acquires Marine Research Vessel  11/09/2013

The Government of Kenya has acquired a marine research vessel christened ‘MV Mtafiti’ from the Flemish Government of Belgium. The vessel was handed over to the Government of Kenya at the port city of Oostende, Belgium, on 3 May 2013. MV Mtafiti is a research vessel with enormous scientific and economic potential to push Kenya into the realm of regional power in marine management, research and utilization.

The vessel departed Belgium on 31 August 2013 and is expected to arrive at the port of Mombasa in late October 2013. Its departure was witnessed by Prof. Micheni Japheth Ntiba (Principal Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries), Dr. Johnson Kazungu (Executive Director, Kenya Marine & Fisheries Research Institute), H.E Ambassador Johnson Weru (Kenyan Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg & Mission to European Union) and Mr. Carl Decaluwe (Governor of West Flanders).