2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

2.1 Population

The population of Kenya as of mid-1964 was estimated in the Kenya Statistical Digest for June, 1965 to have been as follows:

As of mid-1965, the total population was estimated to have been approximately 9.4 million. The African population has been growing in recent years at a rate of 3 per cent per annum, and the Asian population at 2 per cent per annum (Kenya Government Statistical Abstract, 1964). Because of emigration, the European population has been declining. Between mid-1960 and the end of 1964 it fell by 20,000. In the first quarter of 1965, however, the number of European emigrants exceeded that of immigrants by only 82.

The population of Kenya is among the fastest-growing in the world. This needs underscoring to support the various recommendations of this report for an increase in Government spending on fisheries development. Over the last five years, the population has increased by 1 million. If the 3 per cent rate of increase is maintained in the future, another 1.1 million would be added to the population by mid-1969. The population would double in approximately 23 years and a steady increase in overall food production would be necessary to maintain nutritional standards at their present levels.

Kenya has considerable fishery resources, both in its lakes and the sea adjacent to its coast line. More intensive exploitation of these resources could do much to meet rising food requirements. Failure to develop fisheries would lead to growing dependence on imports of fish and other essential animal protein products, with a resultant drain on foreign exchange, to avoid a steady worsening of the dietary situation.

2.2 Fisheries Resources

The following table lists the fishing areas of Kenya as well as catch estimates for 1964:

TABLE I - Fishing Areas and Estimated Catch in 1964

Notes:

1. Lake area particulars were supplied by the Director of Surveys; the years in brackets are the years in which the lakes were last surveyed. Because of flooding in 1961, the results of which are still being felt, the figures may not accurately reflect the present situation.
2. Catch estimates were supplied by the Fisheries Department.

2.3 Per Capita Consumption of Fish

Based on the mid-1965 figure of population, imports for consumption at a rate of approximately 6,000 tons of fish per year, and a domestic production rate for 1965 similar to that of 1964 (there is no reason to assume that production has changed materially from 1964), per capita consumption of fish in 1965 was estimated to have been about 6.2 lbs. (in fresh fish equivalent). This is a very low figure in comparison with neighbouring East African countries (e.g., Uganda, where the corresponding figure was 20 lbs. in 1964), and is explained by the fact that approximately one half of the population either do not eat fish at all or do so only very irregularly. Even if one were to assume that the 26,000 tons total domestic consumption of fish were consumed exclusively by the traditional fish-eating tribes, who currently number approximately 4.5 million, per capita consumption for these tribes would be only 12.9 lbs. This is still a relatively low figure and bears out the conclusions reached in the course of the various field surveys that the potential market for locally produced fish was substantial, both amongst present fish eaters, who may be induced to buy larger quantities, and amongst those tribes who do not traditionally include fish in their diets. It appears that lack of familiarity and lack of local availability of fish are the principal reasons for the latter rather than any strong prejudice against fish eating.

A World Health Organization team which was conducting a nutritional survey at the time of the expert's visit to Kenya informed him that amongst the tribes in the thickly populated Central Province area only 50 per cent of the population ate meat, milk or eggs, and then only very occasionally, whilst the rest of the population was on a vegetable diet. The team indicated that until recently, it was estimated, there were approximately 40,000 cases of kwashiorkor, the protein deficiency disease, amongst children in Kenya per year. Furthermore, they thought that this figure might have to be revised upwards in the light of recent surveys. Their general conclusion was that the lack of animal proteins in the diet of the majority of the Africans of Kenya was very substantial. Any steps which could be taken to increase fish production and consumption, therefore, would have to be welcomed on dietary and medical grounds.