Kenya committed to meeting maritime framework expectations

PUBLISHED ON November 15th, 2019

Kenya committed to meeting maritime framework expectations

Speaking during a Regional meeting on “Capacity Building Coordination for Enhanced Maritime Security in the West Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden and Donor Forum”at a Mombasa hotel, defense Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo said progress has been made to enhance Maritime domain awareness through multi agency collaboration.

“I have observed directly the benefits that have accrued from the Maritime code of conduct appended in Djibouti by member states geared towards near eradication of piracy,” said Omamo.

She added that there was need to leverage on cross border collaboration in support of integrated maritime security approach to ensure success in information sharing within the expanded scope of maritime crime.

CS Omamo observed that Kenya is committed to meeting the maritime framework expectations and implementation of the Jeddah amendments that allows for organized dialogue and decision making to enable the region procress its maritime security agenda.

She called on the donor agencies to input new capabilities to confront maritime challenges including illegal fishing and drug trafficking saying this will rob the African continent off a generation.

The CS pleaded with donors to align their support to the regional needs to win the war on piracy which is a global problem.

“Young desperate Africans brought piracy into the west of Indian ocean. We plead for convergence of interests in getting rid of unregulated fishing, drug trafficking and ability to deal with disasters,” said CS Omamo.

She noted that 90 per cent of the world trade is transported through the sea and it was through safe and secure seas that the trade would grow and prosper.

All our countries have obligations under the global UN sustainable development goals and benefits from blue economy cannot be actualized in an environment of insecurity, pollution, piracy, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other illicit maritime activities.

The CS commended the continued existence and success of the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC) and donor support for diverse initiatives to ensure identified objectives are met.

Source: KBC

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