Coastal leaders have disagreed with Shipping and Maritime Principle Secretary Nancy Karigithu's remarks that lack of basic English language skills inhibit locals from getting employed at foreign shipping lines.

Mvita Member of Parliament Abdulswamad Nassir termed the remarks as ‘mediocre’ said that the MPs are confident that Coastal youths have exemplary abilities in working at the blue economy. 

"I am really disappointed, the level of mediocre thoughts coming from the PS. When you have a PS whose mediocre and degrading thoughts are going to insult the whole region then that person is wanting," he said. 

Nassir added that, the biggest reason why most Coastal youths fail to secure jobs at the blue economy is not proficiency in English speaking but is the failure for the PS to implement the laws that were passed by the National Assembly. 

He noted "The biggest challenge in our youth in the Coastal area not getting this jobs is not the fact we cannot speak English, we can teach you English. The biggest challenge is your incapability to enact the laws that are already there.”

Nassir further promised to follow up the issue on the National assembly after it’s one week recess.

‘’The difference between me and others is that I just don’t speak on public dias, I demand for answers in the national assembly so you will have to come to the national assembly and tell us what you meant when you told us we don’t know how to speak English” he added.

At the same time, Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki said  the PS should have given out her help to the youths to pursue further English studies when she was working as the director at Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and not blaming them.

“She had the opportunity to bring change while serving at KMA. KMA is a parastatal at the Coast region it is not in Kiambu, Turkana or Nyanza. She should have focused on helping the Coastal youths.” said Faki.

Adding ‘This is an insult and neocolonialism”

The Senator argued that marine operators have the ability to learn several languages based on the nature of their jobs. 

" Everyone has got their language, we also have China ships, so does it mean job speakers will have to be fluent on many foreign languages," said Faki. 

Kisauni Mp Ali Mbogo argued the Coast region has always produced some of the workers on the international shipping lines and the sentiments by PS Karigithu are misleading and unfortunate.

"The president came up with the a good initiative of blue economy which will help our youth but with the likes of Karigithu this will be impossible, her sentiments should not be coming from a leader more so from the government" said Mbogo.

Adding "Let Karigithu go and read the ISO standard for maritime communication protocol which talks about the basics of international communication for seafarers"

On his part Nyali Mp Moahmmed Ali said gone are days when English was considered a language for the educated, superior or sophisticated people.

“The youth need jobs, they need a fair chance to prove their skills. Cutting them out because of the language they choose to express themselves in is being ignorant. PS Karigithu you are a total disgrace, selfish, tribalist”. said Ali

Youths took the remarks as insults and a way to marginalize the region. 

"English is not a measure to success, after all we have other youths who go to work at Middle East countries but get conversant with the local language, said Jacob Chigoh from Kwale County.

The PS made the remarks during a live interview with a local Tv station while marking World Maritime Day on September 24, she said there are numerous job opportunities in the industry but the youth are hindered by lack of basic English communication skills.