Kenya is seeking to expand investment and employment opportunities in the Blue Economy as the Government moves to position the country as a leading maritime hub in Africa.
The push will be highlighted during the inaugural Kenya Maritime Excellence Awards (KMEA), set for December 11, 2026, at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.
The awards will recognise individuals, institutions and businesses contributing to shipping, maritime affairs and other water-based economic activities.
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Beyond the Port of Mombasa
Kenya’s maritime economy extends beyond the Port of Mombasa, which serves as a key gateway for the country and several landlocked markets in East and Central Africa.
The wider Blue Economy includes shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, transport, logistics and marine-related manufacturing.
The Government sees these activities as potential sources of jobs, food, investment and foreign exchange, while seeking to attract more private capital into the sector.
Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Ali Hassan Joho said the awards would help raise the profile of Kenya’s maritime industry and showcase local expertise.
“This awards ceremony is an opportunity to tell Kenya’s maritime story, attract investment, inspire innovation and demonstrate that our country has the talent, institutions and ambition required to compete in the global maritime economy.” Joho said.
Focus on skills and jobs
Principal Secretary for Shipping and Maritime Affairs Aden Millah said many professionals supporting the industry had not received sufficient recognition despite their contribution to the economy.
“For a long time, many of these contributions have not received the visibility they deserve,” Millah said.
The Government is also seeking to increase opportunities for Kenyan seafarers in international markets by strengthening maritime education and training to meet global standards.
For ordinary Kenyans, the sector could provide opportunities beyond traditional fishing and port-related jobs, particularly in logistics, technology, tourism, aquaculture and specialised maritime services.
Changing perceptions of water resources
Principal Secretary for Blue Economy Betsy Muthoni said the Government wants more Kenyans to view the country’s oceans, lakes and other water resources as economic assets as well as environmental resources.
“We want to encourage a generation of Kenyans to see the ocean not only as an environmental resource, but also as a source of jobs, enterprise, technology, food security, investment and national prosperity,” she said.
The awards will cover categories including shipping and maritime logistics, ports, seafaring, education and training, innovation and technology, sustainability, governance, women in maritime, environmental excellence and legislative leadership.
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Building partnerships around the Blue Economy
Organisers expect the December event to bring together Government agencies, private companies, investors, academia, development partners and innovators.
The forum is intended to provide space for networking, knowledge sharing and partnerships around the sector.
For Kenya, the challenge will be to translate its strategic position on the Indian Ocean and its extensive inland water resources into tangible opportunities for businesses, workers and communities.
With Mombasa at the centre of regional maritime trade, the Government hopes greater investment and recognition of local expertise can help expand the contribution of the Blue Economy to Kenya’s economy.
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