Kenya has joined a select group of nations leading the charge toward a sustainable blue economy, following its selection as one of only seven countries globally to host a United Nations-backed Ocean Centre.
Announced during the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the Kenya Ocean Centre will be launched in July 2025 in Mombasa. It will be hosted by the Global Compact Network Kenya, under the joint stewardship of the United Nations Global Compact and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
The Centre aims to position Kenya as a regional leader in marine sustainability and offshore wind energy, complementing the success of the Lake Turkana Wind Power project, the largest onshore wind farm in Africa.
Judy Njino, Executive Director of Global Compact Network Kenya, emphasized the Centre’s goal of advancing blue economy strategies that respond to local realities. “We need an ocean economy that works for all, especially those on the frontlines of climate change, unemployment, and marine degradation,” she said.
The Kenya Ocean Centre will focus on four thematic areas tailored to the country’s coastal challenges: resilience, worker safety, community engagement, and skills development. It will promote safe and inclusive practices in marine sectors, support environmental sustainability, and empower underserved communities such as Kilifi fisherfolk and students in Malindi.
Olive Mumbo, Country Lead for Ocean Centres Kenya, underscored the importance of community inclusion. “True inclusion means Kilifi fisherfolk and Malindi students must have a real say in shaping our ocean future,” she stated.
Through partnerships with government agencies, civil society, the private sector, and academic institutions, the Centre aims to drive innovation, attract sustainable marine finance, and develop homegrown solutions for Kenya’s blue economy.
Kenya joins Brazil, Ghana, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines in forming a global network of Ocean Centres. Together, they will contribute to the Ocean Centres Manifesto, a global blueprint for inclusive, locally driven, and sustainable marine development.
Written By Rodney Mbua
