Kenya joins global ocean centre initiative to advance a sustainable blue economy

This initiative, launched during the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, is spearheaded by the United Nations Global Compact and Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

Slated for launch in July 2025 in Mombasa, the Kenya Ocean Centre will be hosted by Global Compact Network Kenya, serving as a national platform to drive safe, inclusive, and sustainable growth within the country’s blue economy.

It will also serve as a catalyst for offshore wind exploration along Kenya’s coastline, complementing the country’s onshore wind success.

The Kenya Ocean Centre will address unsafe working conditions in marine and coastal industries, promote inclusion by empowering youth, women, and underserved communities such as Kilifi fisherfolk and Malindi students, and support environmentally responsible practices in aquaculture, fishing, and offshore energy.

By developing homegrown strategies, the Centre aims to attract sustainable marine finance and innovation while making Kenya’s blue economy safer, fairer, and more resilient.

The Centre’s work will be grounded in four thematic focus areas aligned with Kenya’s coastal realities, from Lamu to Mombasa, emphasizing resilience, worker safety, community engagement, and skills development.

Judy Njino, Executive Director of Global Compact Network Kenya, highlighted the urgency of crafting blue economy strategies that reflect local needs, stating, “We need an ocean economy that works for all—especially those on the frontlines of climate change, unemployment, and marine degradation.”

Olive Mumbo, Country Lead for Ocean Centres Kenya, echoed this sentiment by emphasizing the importance of genuine community inclusion: “True inclusion means Kilifi fisherfolk and Malindi students must have a real say in shaping our ocean future.”

Together, these Centres will contribute to the development of the Ocean Centres Manifesto, a global blueprint for action that reflects both international best practices and locally grounded wisdom.