Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) officers have visited the Kisumu County Assembly exhibition booth during the 2026 Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Show at the Mamboleo Showground to engage the Assembly on opportunities for expanding maritime training and skills development in Kisumu County.
The team showcased the Academy’s role as Kenya’s premier institution for maritime education and training, highlighting programmes that equip young people with practical and internationally recognized skills for careers in the maritime industry and the wider blue economy.
Particular emphasis was placed on the Basic Safety Training Course commonly referred to as STCW, which is mandatory for anyone seeking employment onboard cruise ships, merchant vessels and other maritime workplaces.
BMA encouraged the County Assembly to explore ways of facilitating students from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across Kisumu County to undertake the course, opening doors to global employment opportunities.
The Academy also highlighted its ongoing Coxswain Certification Programme for boat operators from the Lake Region.
The programme is designed to enhance safety, professionalism and compliance in inland water transport on Lake Victoria while improving the skills of coxswains operating passenger and fishing vessels.
BMA noted that the County Assembly can play a key role in supporting the certification of more coxswains across Kisumu County.
Such interventions would strengthen water transport safety, improve livelihoods and promote sustainable utilization of Lake Victoria’s vast blue economy resources.
The engagement reaffirmed BMA’s commitment to working with county governments and other stakeholders to increase access to maritime training, empower youth with industry-relevant skills and position the Lake Region to benefit from the growing opportunities within Kenya’s blue economy.
