NEW YORK, U.S.A – President William Ruto has spoken out about Kenya’s readiness to host the forthcoming 11th Our Ocean Conference in 2026.
The head of state made the remarks when he met John Kerry, former US Secretary of State and founder of the Our Ocean Conference on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“I affirmed Kenya’s full readiness to host the 11th edition in June 2026 at the Coast under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future.” This historic milestone, the first time the Conference will be held on African soil, offers our continent the chance to shape the global ocean agenda for the next decade,” President Ruto said in a statement.
The Our Ocean Conference is a significant global forum that brings together governments, corporations, non-governmental organisations, and academic institutions to promote ocean-related action and ambition. It was started in 2014 by Kerry.
Marine protected areas, the sustainable blue economy, climate change, maritime security, sustainable fisheries, and marine pollution are the six main topics of discussion during the conference.
It is one of the most influential international conferences for ocean sustainability, having produced over 2,600 commitments totalling over $160 billion since its establishment.
Tom Pickerell, Head of the Ocean Panel Secretariat and Global Director of World Resources Institute’s Ocean Program said:
“Kenya has long been an advocate and leader on ocean issues — as an active member of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel), the host of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and a pioneer in ambitious policies to tackle plastic pollution and foster a sustainable ocean economy. ”
Why Our Ocean Conference is crucial
In his own words, Tom further said:
“A crucial forum for raising funds and spurring important ocean action is the Our Ocean Conference. It has been a successful tool in its first decade to push back against multilateral agreements and promote further declarations of marine protected areas. According to our data, ocean ambitions have increased both worldwide and regionally with each subsequent conference.”
Kenya will have the chance to bring international attention to the region’s priorities and issues as the first Our Ocean Conference to be held in Africa. These include issues like pollution, maritime security, marine conservation, ocean-climate resilience, sustainable fishing, and the sustainable ocean economy.
According to President Ruto, Kenya is keen on protecting its oceans and harnessing blue resources responsibly for sustainable growth.
“At the conference we will showcase Africa’s leadership in ocean action, rallying nations and partners to protect marine ecosystems, expand the blue economy, and secure prosperity for generations to come,” President Ruto further explained.
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