Kenyan seafarers will be issued with special identity cards to improve their employability and lock out foreigners, state agencies in the maritime sector working under the whole-of-government approach, say.

Maritime jobs have been a source of discontent in Kenya as locals often complain of discrimination for lack of certification in an industry that is dominated by workers from South America, Middle East and Far East Asia.

The initiative, driven by the State Department for Shipping and Maritime, Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), Immigration Services, National Registration Bureau, and e-Citizen, is intended to fast-track Seafarer’s Identification Documents (SID) issuance to enable Kenyans to access global job markets.

The essential travel document facilitates seafarers’ entry aboard vessels or leave, transit, transfer and repatriation in various countries.

Speaking during a joint press briefing with Bandari Maritime Academy and the Kenya National Shipping Line Limited (KNSL), KMA Acting Director General Isaiah Nakoru assured stakeholders that the SID system is in its final stages, pending approval by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to ensure compliance with global standards.

The push for seamless SID issuance follows a directive from Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, who intervened after student protests at Bandari Maritime Academy. The demonstrations highlighted concerns over sea-time opportunities and misinformation regarding certification standards.

Nakoru linked the recent unrest of the students to misinformation. He said the country has witnessed a tremendous growth in seafarer numbers from 5,000 in 2022 to the current 16,000. He confirmed that Kenya is on IMO Whitelist, which means the certificates issued by KMA to its seafarers are internationally accepted and are recognised by IMO member states.

“There are people who want to mislead others that the certificates issued in Kenya do not meet international standards. We want to confirm that our certificates meet the international standards,” affirmed the KMA acting director-general.

The agencies promised to embark on awareness creation on their respective roles and on available employment opportunities to rebuff misinformation.

Nakoru further reiterated the government’s commitment to creating employment opportunities for seafarers. For instance, he disclosed that Kenya has signed recognition agreements with four countries – Panama, Liberia, Palau and Jamaica.

“These four countries have a combined ship register of 14,000 ships on which Kenyan seafarers can be engaged for employment,” he said, adding that KMA also regulates seafarer recruitment and placement agencies to improve the welfare of seafarers.

Nakoru also urged students to seek dialogue rather than demonstrations, warning that protests could tarnish the country’s image and undermine the industry growth.

BMA Board chairman, Prof Kinandu Muragu, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to addressing students’ concerns proactively.

He announced that the academy, which recently received IMO accreditation as an International Training Centre for Maritime, would ensure that diploma graduates secure sea-time experience by June.

“Whoever we train from Bandari should be accepted in nations that carry the IMO flag,” he stated adding: “As long as we are on IMO whitelist, we should be able to get our cadets to work in these countries.”

KNSL Managing Director Abdalla Hatimy assured students that they will ensure transparency on placement of students on vessels to get sea time based on merit.

He disclosed that Kenya has a bilateral agreement with the Republic of Korea for the placement of 1000 cadets on their vessels.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Sadik Hassan