Vision
To be a world-class maritime administration
Mission
To regulate, co-ordinate and oversee maritime affairs through ensuring safety of lives, security of ships and port facilities and protection of marine environment using best practices in compliance with national laws and international conventions, for the socio-economic benefit of stakeholders.
The protection of the marine environment and living resources is very important to Kenya’s economy as she relies heavily on tourism and fisheries both of which would be adversely affected by any oil/chemical pollution incident on her shores or inland waters. Kenya also relies almost exclusively on shipping for her imports and exports.
The mandate of Kenya Maritime Authority as provided for in KMA Act 2006 is “to regulate, co-ordinate and oversee maritime affairs in the country”.
Scope of the mandate
Regulatory mandate |
1. Strengthen maritime administration in the country through enhancement of regulatory and institutional capacities for effective Flag State Implementation and Port State Control including ship surveying/inspection;
2. Foster effective implementation of international maritime conventions and other mandatory instruments, with particular emphasis on the SOLAS, MARPOL, SAR and STCW Conventions, ISM and IMDG Codes;
3. Support for the establishment of independent Admiralty courts and regulatory framework for the adjudication of maritime claims in Kenya and in further support of objective one above;
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Coordination |
Provide facilitative/leading and coordinating role in SAR, Oil Spill Response, IOMOU activities and ISPS code;
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Oversight |
Promote, nurture and domesticate liberalization in the maritime industry.
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The functions of KMA are: -
i. Co-ordinate the implementation of policies relating to maritime affairs and promote the integration of such policies into the national development projects;
ii. Advise the Government on legislative and other measures necessary for the implementation of relevant international conventions, treaties, agreements to which Kenya is a party;
iii. Undertake and co-ordinate research, investigations and surveys in the maritime field;
iv. Discharge Flag and Port State responsibilities in an efficient and effective manner having regard to international maritime conventions, treaties, agreements and other international instruments;
v. Develop, co-ordinate and manage a national oil spill contingency plan for both coastal and inland waters and shall in the discharge of this responsibility be designated as the “competent authority”;
vi. Maintain and administer a Ships Register with a view to enhancing domestication and participation of the national and international ship owners;
vii. Deal with matters pertaining to maritime search and rescue and co-ordinate the activities of the Kenya Ports Authority, the Kenya Navy and any other body engaged during search and rescue operations;
viii. Enforce safety of shipping including compliance with construction regulations, maintenance of safety standards and safety of navigation rules;
ix. Conduct regular inspections of ships to ensure maritime safety and prevention of maritime pollution;
x. Oversee matters pertaining to training, recruitment and welfare of seafarers;
xi. Plan, monitor and evaluate training programmes to ensure conformity with standards laid down in international maritime conventions and for purposes of certification and accreditation;
xii. Conduct investigations into maritime casualties including wreck;
xiii. Undertake enquiries with respect to charges of incompetence and misconduct on the part of seafarers;
xiv. Ensure in collaboration with such other public agencies and institutions, the prevention of marine source pollution, protection of the marine environment and response to marine environment incidents;
xv. Regulate activities with regard to shipping in the inland waterways including safety of navigation;
xvi. Perform such other functions as the Minister may from time to time assigns the Authority.
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