(Jomvu, Mombasa) – A group of women in Jomvu, Mombasa, is breaking gender barriers by venturing into the male-dominated mud crab aquaculture industry, achieving both financial success and sustainable community development.
In a shift from traditional roles where women primarily handled fish frying and small-scale trading, these women have taken the bold step of fattening mud crabs for sale, a business once reserved for men. This change was sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 when the women, formerly known as ‘Mama Karanga’ for their fish trading activities, saw the opportunity to venture into crab farming.
The Jomvu Women in Fisheries, a group of 28 members, now manage crab cages in Jomvu Mission Creek, part of the Indian Ocean. The crabs are nurtured until they reach marketable sizes. Each cage, which holds up to 100 crabs, can yield substantial returns, with the crabs fetching between Sh900 and Sh1,400 per kilogram.
The group’s chairperson, Charity Baya, shared that while they initially began as an all-women initiative, the increasing demands of the work led to the inclusion of three men to help with the more physically strenuous tasks. Together, they have established two crab cages, providing steady income to their members. “Most of our members are mothers, and they can all attest to the positive impact this venture has had on their livelihoods,” Baya remarked.
Beyond crab farming, the group has set its sights on boosting eco-tourism by constructing a boardwalk through the local mangrove forests. This boardwalk will offer nature tours and provide additional income for the group. Members are being trained as tour guides, lifeguards, and in other tourism-related skills, further expanding their business horizons. Baya expressed hopes that these ventures will generate over a million shillings annually, which is a significant increase from their previous earnings of Sh200 per day from fish frying.
The success of the group’s innovative approach was recognized by the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development project (KEMFSED), which awarded them a grant of Sh2.7 million for both the crab farming and the boardwalk project. David Nyamu, a secretary and one of the men involved, explained that the group’s goal is to harvest and sell around 200 crabs each month, potentially generating over Sh200,000 in revenue. With each crab taking up to a month to fatten, the venture provides steady income to the women and their families.
In addition to their economic activities, the group is committed to environmental conservation. They have planted and nurtured over 700,000 mangrove seedlings, which play a crucial role in providing fish and crab breeding grounds and protecting the coastline from erosion. Nyamu emphasized, “We’ve taken it upon ourselves to conserve the environment, both for the sake of our livelihoods and for future generations.”
The Jomvu Women in Fisheries have not only transformed their own lives but also contributed to the broader community. Through collaborations with local fishermen and training youth in sustainable practices, they are ensuring the long-term success of their initiatives. “This is not just a business; it’s a legacy we want to leave behind,” Nyamu said.
The group’s efforts have received support from local government entities, including the Mombasa County government and KEMFSED. These institutions have helped connect the women with investors, financial institutions, and training opportunities. The Mombasa Blue Economy, Agriculture, and Livestock Executive, Kibibi Abdalla, stated that the county supports over 40 groups under the Beach Management Units, which aim to enhance financial literacy and provide access to sustainable development resources.