This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
Published on November 18, 2021, a new association, the Association of Maritime Practitioners-Kenya (AMPK), was unveiled in Mombasa to represent seafarers and other workers in the maritime sector.
Kenya's seafarers have long faced numerous challenges, including poor wages, shaky contracts, and the threat of pirates at sea. They often spend long periods away from their families, working long hours and facing poor diets.
Gen (Rtd) Samsom Mwathethe, Head of the Blue Economy National Steering Committee, said the association will boost Kenya's rankings in the global maritime sector.
'It is standard procedure to have professional bodies representing various labour cadres,' Mwathethe said.
The association's officials include Mwathethe, a senior marine pilot at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), and other experienced professionals in the maritime sector.
They aim to advance the interests of merchant navy officers and affiliated maritime practitioners in Kenya, facilitating the exchange of information and ideas on pertinent matters within the maritime industry.
Membership to the association is acquired through proven qualifications and experience in the industry, with the defining qualification for the merchant navy officer being a Certificate of Competency (CoC).
