Sustaining marine based livelihoods and its associated activities is facing greatest challenges today than ever before due to intense pressure of overexploitation, inadequate alternative livelihood options, weak enforcement of Government regulations, population explosion and lack of awareness on resource use and sustainability. Adaptive responses includes diversification of alternative livelihood options like poultry keeping, eco-tourism, gardening, small scale businesses and accumulation of savings are employed to reverse the trend This presentation focuses on Kwale district in Kenya particularly Diani Chale area as an example of a developing village and concentrate on two forms of ICTs, the computer (internet) and community phones (Simu ya Jamii), it discusses social and economic development as well as empowerment aspects or lack of it therefore resulting from the use and access of these two particular ICTs. It is true that increased use of phones in rural villages in Kenya has brought about some benefits for some women in terms of networking for instance; the opposite might be true for others. This is especially in the private sphere where some women face challenges in accessing market information for their products or services. This paper analyses the true role ICTs can play in alleviating poverty and improving the socio economic conditions of women, especially those in rural areas along the Kenyan coast. It elucidates the capabilities of ICTs, but also the limitations as well. It predominantly focuses on the following areas: ï?± Use of ICT as a tool to access market information and to network ï?± Use of ICT to reduce cost and time ï?± ICTs in community development and women empowerment ï?± Use of ICTs from the livelihood approach; i.e. how far ICTs could enhance women socio-economic base
