This archive report was first published on 1 December 2019.
Published on December 1, 2019, Kenya has successfully retained its seat on the Council of the International Maritime Organisation.
The country's re-election to the council is a significant win, allowing Kenya to continue playing a crucial role in shaping global shipping regulations.
Kenya was re-elected under Category C, a group of 20 countries with special interests in maritime transport or navigation. In Africa, Morocco, South Africa, Liberia, and Egypt are the other members of this category.
Kenya's strategic location along the Eastern Africa coast makes it a vital player in global shipping, according to Maritime PS Nancy Karigithu, who led the delegation to the polls.
"Our re-election to the council will ensure continued representation of a major geographic area in Eastern Africa and the Great Lakes region," Karigithu said.
Kenya's High Commissioner to the UK, Manoah Esipisu, expressed delight at the vote result, stating, "It confirms the world's confidence on our leadership around maritime transport and safety, and our commitment to the Blue Economy."
"Our re-election to the council will ensure continued representation of a major geographic area in Eastern Africa and the Great Lakes region consisting of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda," she said on Saturday. Kenya has been a member of the IMO since 1973 and has been re-elected to the Council under Category C in 2001 and subsequent elections, including the last one in 2017. The IMO is a specialised agency that determines rules on shipping safety and environment, with over 80% of global trade relying on seas. The organisation's regulatory framework has a significant impact on how shipping lines and ports operate.
