By John Ndegwa / BMA
Kenya is stepping up efforts to unlock the full economic potential of its maritime sector, with the Government targeting the training of 35,000 seafarers and the placement of 20,900 Kenyan seafarers in employment opportunities locally and internationally.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Eng. Aden Millah, said the Government is prioritizing investments that will transform Kenya’s strategic maritime position into jobs, investment, enterprises, revenue and improved livelihoods.
The Principal Secretary Eng. Millah was accompanied by Bandari Maritime Academy Board of Directors Chairman, Eng. Lung’anzi Chai Mangale, and BMA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Eric Katana, among other stakeholders from Government, the maritime industry, academia, private sector and development partners.
Ps Eng. Millah said the Government is prioritizing investments that will transform Kenya’s strategic maritime position into jobs, investment, enterprises, revenue and improved livelihoods.
Speaking at the FY 2027/28 and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum held at Bandari Maritime Academy Amphitheatre, Eng. Millah said about 95 per cent of Kenya’s international trade is conducted by sea, making the maritime sector central to the country’s trade, logistics, industrialization and economic competitiveness.
He said the Government will focus on strengthening maritime education and training, shipping and logistics, maritime transport infrastructure, sustainable use of marine resources, maritime safety and security, and national shipping capacity.
Under the Vijana Baharia Programme, the Government plans to provide sea-time opportunities to 14,500 seafarers, making the initiative not only a training programme but also an employment and economic empowerment intervention.
The Government will also prioritize the completion and operationalization of the Survival Training and Certification Centre at Bandari Maritime Academy, alongside curriculum development, competency-based training and staff capacity enhancement.
PS Eng. Millah said significant progress had already been made in developing Kenya’s maritime human capital. Through the Vijana Baharia Programme, 9,969 seafarers have been trained, with 7,457 securing employment. At Bandari Maritime Academy, the Government has strengthened curricula, learning guides and training manuals, implemented competency-based curricula and undertaken Training of Trainers programmes.
He challenged stakeholders to shift from simply allocating resources to financing results, with every investment expected to demonstrate tangible value to Kenyans through job creation, increased cargo throughput, improved competitiveness, enhanced safety and attraction of private investment.
PS Eng. Millah called for stronger collaboration among Government, counties, private investors, financial institutions, development partners, academia, professional bodies and local communities to unlock maritime investment opportunities.
“Our ambition is clear: to position Kenya as a competitive maritime and logistics hub, while ensuring that the benefits of the maritime economy reach ordinary Kenyans,” he said.
BMA Board of Directors Chairman, Eng. Lung’anzi Chai Mangale, underscored the Academy’s strategic role in supporting Kenya’s maritime development agenda. His presence at the high-level stakeholder engagement reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to strengthening governance and positioning BMA as a centre of excellence in maritime education and training, while supporting national efforts to develop a skilled workforce capable of contributing to Kenya’s growing maritime and Blue Economy sectors.
BMA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Eric Katana, reaffirmed the Academy’s commitment to delivering quality, competency-based maritime education and training aligned with the evolving needs of the maritime industry. His participation in the forum highlighted BMA’s role in implementing national maritime priorities, particularly in developing competent seafarers, strengthening practical training and advancing initiatives that enhance Kenya’s capacity to participate competitively in the global maritime economy.
The stakeholder engagement forum provides a platform for Government and industry players to deliberate on priorities for the FY 2027/28 and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, with a focus on realistic, inclusive, measurable and results-oriented investments.
