By John Ndegwa / BMA
Sixty trainees from Kinango Constituency in Kwale County have successfully graduated after completing the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) course at Bandari Maritime Academy, marking a significant step toward expanding maritime career opportunities for youth in the coastal region.
The graduation ceremony was held at Vigurungani, Kinango, bringing together local leaders, families, and community members who gathered to celebrate the achievement of the trainees.
Representing the Chief Executive Officer of Bandari Maritime Academy, Dr. Eric Katana, Senior Partnership, Partnership and Resource Mobilization Officer Fatma Mzee congratulated the graduates for their dedication and successful completion of the internationally recognized maritime safety training.
Fatma also noted that the Academy remains committed to supporting government initiatives aimed at empowering coastal youth through maritime education and skills development, adding that the training opens doors for employment opportunities both locally and internationally within the shipping and maritime sectors.
The training programme was sponsored by Kinango Constituency Member of Parliament Gonzi Rai through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), an initiative aimed at enhancing skills development and creating employment opportunities for young people in the constituency.
Speaking during the ceremony, MP Gonzi Rai encouraged the graduates to make good use of the knowledge and skills they had acquired and urged them to become ambassadors of maritime professionalism and safety. He reaffirmed his commitment to continue supporting educational and training opportunities that empower youth and improve livelihoods in Kinango and the wider Kwale County.
