Tempers flared in Parliament as Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho disclosed that the government had spent KSh 1.6 billion on counting fish in the Indian Ocean. Joho faced tough questions from the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water, and Irrigation, with lawmakers questioning the value of the expenditure.

During his appearance on Tuesday, September 10, Joho, accompanied by Principal Secretary Betsy Muthoni Njagi, defended the spending, explaining it was part of a larger KSh 3.6 billion project spread over three years to assess fish stocks in the Indian Ocean. The project began on July 1, 2023, and ended its first phase on June 30, 2024.

Committee Chair, Marakwet East MP Kangogo Bowen, expressed frustration at the lack of tangible results. “We gave you KSh 3 billion for stock assessment. What do you have to show for it? You should be telling us how many Tuna or Tilapia we have in our waters,” Bowen demanded.

Joho tried to assure the committee that the project is ongoing and expected to conclude by the 2025-2026 fiscal year. However, his assurances were met with skepticism. Tiaty MP William Kamket questioned the necessity of spending such an amount on fish counts amid other pressing national needs. “Are you saying billions were allocated just to count fish in the ocean?” Kamket scoffed.

Other lawmakers echoed concerns over the project’s value for money, calling for a breakdown of the expenditures and an explanation of the project’s expected benefits. “This is a huge amount to spend without a clear outcome,” added MP Kangogo.

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The controversy has cast doubt on the project’s future phases, as MPs demand answers about the use of public funds. As the debate rages on, it seems Joho may have found himself in deep water over the fish-counting venture.