Kenya has intensified preparations for the 11th Our Ocean Conference set to be held in Mombasa in June 2026, with the government engaging development partners to support the landmark global event.
Principal Secretary for the Blue Economy Betsy Njagi convened a high-level Development Partner Engagement meeting aimed at aligning international support and collaboration ahead of the conference.
The meeting, held at Gem Suites along Riverside Drive, brought together representatives from major international organizations and diplomatic missions including the United Nations Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Development Programme, IFAD, UN Women Kenya, UNIDO, FSD Africa, and several foreign missions including Norway, Canada, and Japan.
The 11th Our Ocean Conference is scheduled to take place in Mombasa from June 16 to 18, 2026 under the theme: “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future.”
Speaking during the engagement, PS Njagi outlined Kenya’s vision and strategic priorities for hosting the conference, calling on development partners to support the event through financial commitments, technical collaboration, side events, and joint initiatives.
She noted that Kenya’s hosting of the conference presents a major opportunity for Africa to showcase leadership in ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, climate resilience, and the promotion of an inclusive blue economy.
Development partners welcomed Kenya’s decision to host the conference, which will be the first Our Ocean Conference to take place on African soil since the initiative began in 2014.
According to the Ministry, the conference has so far mobilized more than 2,900 commitments globally valued at approximately USD 169 billion toward ocean action and marine sustainability initiatives.
Officials said Kenya intends to use the 2026 conference to accelerate implementation of ocean protection policies while highlighting the economic potential of the blue economy sector across Africa.
The government further described the latest engagement as a critical step toward coordinating development partner efforts with Kenya’s national priorities ahead of the global summit.
