Murkomen rallies partners to boost maritime security
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called for stronger collaboration among governments, maritime agencies and development partners to enhance security in Kenya’s waters and across the wider Indo-Pacific region.
Speaking during the opening of the 4th Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing Platform (IORIS) Steering Committee High-Level Meeting in Mombasa, Mr Murkomen said partnerships and timely sharing of information are key to tackling emerging maritime threats.
“Proactive cooperation and partnerships are extremely critical in safeguarding our maritime security,” he said.
The three-day meeting, hosted jointly by the Kenya Coast Guard Service and the European Union-funded Critical Maritime Routes Indo-Pacific (EU-CRIMARIO) project, has brought together maritime security experts and policymakers from across the region.
The cabinet secretary noted that maritime security has become increasingly important as global trade, shipping and blue economy activities continue to grow.
The IORIS platform, a flagship initiative of the EU-CRIMARIO project, provides a secure digital system that enables maritime agencies from different countries to share information and coordinate operations in real time.
The Cabinet Secretary said countries must work together to combat challenges such as piracy, illegal fishing, human trafficking, smuggling and other transnational crimes that threaten maritime safety.
The meeting comes days after President William Ruto announced that Norwegian maritime company will recruit 1,000 Kenyan seafarers, a move expected to create employment opportunities for young Kenyans and strengthen the country’s position in the global maritime industry.
Among those attending the conference are EU-CRIMARIO Director Martin Cauchi Inglott, Kenya Coast Guard Service Director General Bruno Shioso and Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to Kenya Ondrej Simek.
The conference is expected to strengthen regional cooperation and improve coordination in responding to maritime security challenges across the Indo-Pacific region.
