Kenya has sent a high-powered delegation to the United Kingdom to campaign for its re-election into the International Maritime Organisation Council Category (C) for the biennium 2024-2025
Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, accompanied by Maritime Principal Secretary Geoffrey Kaituko, Kenya Maritime Authority acting director general John Omingo and Kenya's High Commission to the UK Ambassador Manoah Esipisu are rallying delegates to vote for Kenya.
The election will be held during the 33rd Regular Session of the IMO General Assembly on December 1 at the IMO Headquarters in London.
Twenty-five countries will be competing for the 20 available spots in Category (C) of the IMO Council including Kenya, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Qatar, South Africa, Singapore, Thailand, and Turkey, among others.
Presently, there are three categories of IMO Council membership: Category (A) which constitutes of 10 states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services and Category (B) constitutes 10 states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.
Category (C) consists of 20 states not elected under (A) or (B), which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
On Monday, Mvurya, Kaituko, Omingo and Esipisu met delegates on the sidelines of the ongoing IMO conference in London.
“Kenya seeks your vote and further mandate to continue serving you in the IMO Council under category (C). With Kenya at the council, we assure you of the continuation of the good work that we have done at council and to progress the organisation to be adaptable to the needs of the maritime sector,” Mvurya said.
In July this year, Kenya marked 50 years of membership to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Currently, Kenya is an IMO Council member under Category (C), having first been elected in 2001 with subsequent re-elections to date.
“Our membership to the IMO Council in the past has served to benefit, not only Kenya but also the African continent and the other interests that we believe we should serve as Category (C) members,” Mvurya said.
He said Kenya has offered to host the headquarters of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) with the view of enhancing its participation in the maritime and blue economy.
“Just recently we hosted a continental conference to discuss shipping and how we can participate and benefit from the economic potential of international shipping which forms the backbone of the world economy,” the Blue Economy CS said.
Kainuko said Kenya looks forward to bringing the insights that are required to enhance the inclusivity, professionalism, transparency and effectiveness to the realisation of the IMO’s goals and mandate.
“We reiterate our commitment to diligently and actively serve the member states as members of the IMO Council in the coming biennium,” he said.
If successful in clinching the IMO Council seat, Kenya will be part of the 40 member states- executive organ of IMO and will be responsible together with other elected member countries for supervising the work of the IMO.
As a member of the council, Kenya will together with other elected members of the council coordinate the activities of the organs of the IMO.
The council considers the draft work programmes and budget estimates of the IMO and submits them to the assembly; receives reports and proposals of the committees and other organs and submits them to the assembly and member states, with comments and recommendations as appropriate.
It also takes part in the election of the Secretary General.