On June 25, the global maritime community observes the Day of the Seafarer under the theme, “Carrying World Trade. Carrying the Risks.” It is a fitting tribute to the millions of men and women who brave treacherous seas, endure months of isolation, and face piracy, conflict, and perilous weather to ensure that the lifeblood of global commerce continues to flow . More than 80 percent of global trade is carried by sea, and the food on our tables, the fuel in our vehicles, and the medicines in our hospitals all arrive by ship .
As we pause to honor these unsung heroes, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: Kenya’s maritime professionals are among the most invisible, undervalued, and exploited workers in the national economy. The global shipping industry faces a critical shortage of qualified officers—an estimated 89,000 by 2026—yet thousands of trained Kenyan seafarers remain unemployed or trapped in exploitative arrangements . This paradox is not an accident of fate; it is a failure of policy, governance, and political will.
A Crisis of Governance and Exploitation
The recent grievances laid bare by the Seafarers Union of Kenya paint a damning picture . Kenyan seafarers have endured months without pay aboard vessels operating in our own waters. On the FV Kivu Spear II, crew members have gone five months without salary due to an ownership dispute that should never have been allowed to fester under a Kenyan flag .
These are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a regulatory system that has failed its most essential constituents. The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), vested with the mandate to enforce labor standards and international conventions, has been accused of turning a blind eye to “rogue employers” violating the very laws Kenya has ratified . This is a national embarrassment, especially as Kenya positions itself as a champion of the Blue Economy.
The Bureaucratic Noose Around Seafarers’ Opportunities
The crisis extends beyond wage theft and abandonment to the very gates of our international airport. In a bewildering display of bureaucratic overreach, the National Employment Authority (NEA) has begun demanding certificates from seafarers before they can board flights to overseas jobs . This directive, which has already seen seafarers denied boarding passes, directly contradicts the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC), 2006, which Kenya ratified in 2014. The MLC explicitly prohibits seafarers from bearing recruitment costs and mandates that recruitment systems remain transparent and accountable .
As I have previously warned, “This is bureaucratic overreach with devastating consequences” . Seafarers are not domestic migrant workers; they are international maritime professionals governed by a distinct body of international law. By lumping them together with other labor categories, the NEA has rolled back hard-won gains achieved since 2018, when the first cohorts of Kenyan seafarers were recruited by major shipping lines like MSC Cruises .
The Shadow of Scams and Unregulated Agents
Adding to the despair is the resurgence of fraudulent recruitment practices that evoke memories of the devastating cruise ship job scam of 2001, where thousands of Kenyans lost money to fake overseas jobs . Recent revelations indicate that out of 13 manning and crewing agents licensed by KMA, only six have verifiable agreements with shipping lines . This means that the majority of licensed agents are operating without the core requirement that ensures seafarers are placed into genuine employment.
As I have consistently maintained, “Kenya risks being seen as a supplier of underregulated labour rather than a professional maritime workforce” . This perception damages our standing in the global maritime community and denies our youth the opportunities they deserve. We cannot allow history to repeat itself under the cover of official licensing and conflicting regulations.
A Path Forward
Kenya’s maritime human capital represents a golden opportunity. The global demand for qualified officers and ratings is surging, and our strategic location, coupled with a young, trainable workforce, positions us to become a maritime hub. However, this potential remains untapped.
The Veteran Seafarers Association of Kenya has put forward a comprehensive position paper outlining the structural imperatives required to salvage our maritime sector. These demands are not negotiable; they are the minimum standards of decency and efficiency.
First, we must fast-track the enactment of the Bandari Maritime Academy Act and establish a Merchant Navy Training Board to provide statutory footing and governance for our training institutions. The lack of mandatory hands-on training infrastructure has denied most Kenyans jobs in international shipping lines. The decommissioned Kenya Navy Ships, KNS Galana and KNS Tana, which served the nation with distinction for three decades, can be refurbished and repurposed as national training ships . With an estimated refurbishment cost of Sh500–800 million—a fraction of the Sh49 billion required for a new vessel—this is a strategic and sustainable solution .
Second, the government must end the confusion surrounding seafarer documentation and recruitment. The Seafarer Identity Document (SID) must be issued without further delay, and regulatory mandates must be clarified to ensure seafarer recruitment remains under maritime authorities . A transparent, public database of verified manning agents must be established immediately .
Third, we must fully implement the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention and the Maritime Labor Convention across all training institutions and workplaces. This includes establishing structured training pathways, mandatory English language proficiency courses, and professionalising all ranks, from efficient deck hands to electro-technical officers.
Fourth, we must treat the seafarer’s welfare as a national priority. The establishment of a Seafarers Magna Carta and adequate budgetary allocation for the Seafarers Wages Council is critical to ensuring minimum wage standards are set and enforced.
Conclusion
On this Day of the Seafarer, we must move beyond platitudes and embrace action. The seafarer is the backbone of global commerce and a vital contributor to Kenya’s Blue Economy. As global crises—from geopolitical conflicts to the energy transition—continue to expose seafarers to greater risks, the need to protect their safety, wellbeing, and livelihoods cannot be understated . The theme for 2026, “Carrying World Trade. Carrying the Risks,” is not just a slogan; it is a stark reality. Let us ensure that these brave professionals do not have to carry their burdens alone. Let us build a maritime sector that is safe, fair, and inclusive.
The time for talk is over. The time for action is now.
Andrew Mwangura is a Mombasa-based Public Intellectual