By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, June 17, 2026 - Kenya on Wednesday placed Africa at the centre of the global campaign to protect the world's oceans as hundreds of international delegates, policymakers and environmental leaders converged in Mombasa for the 11th Our Ocean Conference.
The summit, the first ever to be hosted on the African continent, saw President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki call for urgent global action to combat climate change, plastic pollution, illegal fishing and the rapid loss of marine biodiversity threatening livelihoods across the world.
Opening the conference through a video address, President Ruto said oceans remain indispensable to global food security, trade and economic development but face unprecedented threats that require collective international action.
"The ocean powers industries and feeds families, yet it faces a multiplicity of threats like global warming, plastic pollution, illegal fishing and the silent disappearance of life beneath the waves," President Ruto told delegates.
The President said Kenya was no longer a bystander in global environmental discussions but an active participant in efforts to restore and protect marine ecosystems.
"Kenya is already at work. We are restoring mangroves, cleaning our waters, reforming fisheries and strengthening ocean governance. We are opening the doors to blue finance, science and innovation so that conservation creates opportunities," he said.
The conference, themed "Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future", brought together representatives from governments, international organisations, environmental groups and the private sector in what organisers described as a critical moment for the future of the world's oceans.
Deputy President Kindiki said humanity had a shared responsibility to ensure future generations inherit healthier oceans than those existing today.
"We have an obligation as the current generation to return the ocean to our children cleaner, richer and more resilient than we found it. That is how profound our obligation is," he said.
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He warned that climate change and environmental degradation were increasingly threatening marine ecosystems and the economic opportunities they support.
"We need to take care of our marine biodiversity, manage the effects of climate change and protect sensitive marine ecosystems. It has been said that we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; instead, we borrow it from our children," Prof Kindiki added.
The Deputy President said Kenya's decision to establish a dedicated Ministry of Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs underscored the country's long-term commitment to sustainable management of marine resources.
"The creation of a special ministry responsible for the Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs is not an accident nor an afterthought, but a continuation of a long journey that this country has travelled," he said.
The Mombasa gathering was founded by former United States Secretary of State John Kerry, who attended the conference alongside senior government officials, diplomats and international conservation leaders.
Analysts say hosting the summit marks a significant diplomatic and environmental milestone for Kenya, elevating the country's profile in global climate and conservation debates while giving Africa a stronger voice in shaping the future of ocean governance.
For Kenya, the conference also presents an opportunity to attract international investment into the blue economy sector as governments worldwide seek sustainable solutions to the growing environmental challenges facing the planet's oceans.