- Karigithu is a world-renowned maritime expert who has been an active leader and a consequential voice in promoting the objectives of the IMO
- The election will take place at IMO HQ in London on July 18, 2023.
Image: Courtesy
President William Ruto has rooted for the election of Ambassador Nancy Karigithu as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) secretary general.
In a video posted by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Ruto said Kenya and AU are presenting to the global community a highly competent and qualified candidate who has immensely contributed to maritime issues.
“With experience spanning over 30 years in the maritime sector, Karigithu is an accomplished expert with a proven commitment to the cause of global maritime interests,” he stated.
Ruto added that Karigithu has built consensus on many complex issues which has enabled common action in favour of the shared objectives of the IMO membership.
“I wish to underscore that Karigithu has all it takes to handle challenges facing the shipping industry,” the President said.
Karigithu currently serves as Kenya’s Special Envoy for Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.
Kenya secured the endorsement of the African Union for her candidature during the High-Level Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, in mid-July, 2022.
Karigithu is a world-renowned maritime expert who has been an active leader and a consequential voice in promoting the objectives of the IMO dedicated to safety, security and environmental protection in the maritime industry.
IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping.
The IMO was established following an agreement at a UN conference held in Geneva in 1948 and the IMO came into existence ten years later, meeting for the first time in 1959.
The 40 members of the IMO Council will pick the successor of Kitack Lim of Korea, whose tenure comes to an end in July this year.
If elected, Karigithu will become the first African and the first woman to hold the position.
Seven IMO member states have each nominated a candidate for the post of secretary-general of IMO.
Nominations received by March 31, 2023 deadline are Moin Uddin Ahmed (Bangladesh), Suat Hayri Aka (Turkey), Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco (Panama), Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry (Dominica), Minna Kivimaki (Finland), Zhang Xiaojie (China) and Karigithu.
The election will take place at IMO HQ in London on July 18, 2023.
The decision of the council will be submitted to the 33rd session of the assembly of IMO in late 2023 for approval.