State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs

‎The Principal Secretary, State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs Mr. Aden Millah, joined the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, led by Chairperson and Ndia Constituency Member of Parliament Hon. George Kariuki, for a comprehensive inspection tour at the Bandari Maritime Academy aimed at assessing the institution’s training capacity, infrastructure development and strategic needs in advancing Kenya’s maritime sector.
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‎During the visit, the Committee toured the Academy’s Full Bridge Mission Simulator laboratories, maritime safety and rescue training facilities, swimming and survival training areas, as well as the ongoing construction of the Maritime Survival Training and Certification Centre, a flagship project expected to position Kenya as a regional hub for maritime excellence and globally competitive seafarer training.
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‎PS Aden Millah emphasized that investment in modern maritime education infrastructure is critical in unlocking opportunities within the Blue Economy and positioning Kenya as a leading maritime nation in the East African region.
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‎“We must urgently upgrade and modernize our maritime training facilities to meet global standards and equip Kenyan youth with internationally competitive hands-on skills. Investing in advanced simulators and maritime infrastructure is not an expense, but a strategic investment towards creating jobs, growing our blue economy and positioning Kenya as a regional maritime powerhouse,” said PS Aden Millah.
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‎The modernization of the Academy is expected to significantly reduce reliance on expensive foreign maritime training, expand access to internationally recognized certifications, create employment opportunities for Kenyan youth and enhance the country’s competitiveness within the global maritime industry.
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‎The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure chairperson Hon. George Kariuki, noted that there's urgent need to upgrade the facilities of the institution adding that this action will enable many youth to acquire hands-on training in the maritime sector as well as enable Kenyan to export skills in this sector thus creating employment opportunities for many Kenyans.
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‎Speaking during the engagement, BMA Chief Executive Officer Dr.Eric Lewa Katana, called for enhanced government support and increased budgetary allocation towards the modernization of ship and cargo simulators to align training with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards.
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‎Dr. Katana noted that despite the Academy’s immense potential to produce world-class marine engineers, nautical scientists, maritime transport experts and logistics professionals, inadequate advanced training equipment continues to force some cadets to seek specialized simulator training abroad in countries such as Tanzania, the Philippines and the United Kingdom.
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‎The Parliamentary Committee commended the institution for nurturing young Kenyan talent and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs to support the expansion and modernization of maritime training infrastructure.
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‎The State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs remains committed to supporting strategic investments that bridge the gap between classroom theory and industry-based practical skills while accelerating Kenya’s vision of becoming a regional maritime and blue economy powerhouse. Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Kenya Maritime AuthorityBandari Maritime Academy Parliament of Kenya State House Kenya
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The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Aden Abdi Millah, today officially opened a two-day retreat engagement with the Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Infrastructure aimed at highlighting key projects being implemented by the State Department and its SAGAs, while also rallying support for increased funding for the maritime sector.

The Committee, led by Chairperson George Kariuki, Member of Parliament for Ndia Constituency, underscored the need to align policies and strategies to fully unlock the vast potential of Kenya’s maritime sector. The Chairperson further noted that persistent budgetary constraints have continued to undermine the effective operations of the State Department, calling for urgent interventions and enhanced resource allocation to strengthen the sector.

Among the key projects currently being undertaken by the State Department are:

-Vijana Baharia Programme

-National Maritime Spatial Planning Project

-Lake Turkana Maritime Transport and Investment Project

-Maritime Sector Data Project

-Kenya Lake Victoria Maritime Communication and Transport Project

-Maritime Survival Training and Certification Centre

-Project Mashariki

The retreat emphasized that adequate funding and sustained support for these initiatives will significantly enhance regional connectivity, improve livelihoods, promote sustainable utilization of maritime resources, create employment opportunities, and position Kenya as a leading regional maritime hub.

The Principal Secretary was joined by the Director General of Kenya Maritime Authority, the CEO of Bandari Maritime Academy, the leadership of Kenya National Shipping Line, as well as senior officers from the State Department. Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs PS Aden Abdi Millah

Earlier today, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Aden Millah, together with the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Betsy Njagi, attended a strategic partnership meeting hosted by KCB Group to explore financing opportunities for businesses within the Maritime and Blue Economy sector.

The meeting also brought together State Corporations and Agencies under the two State Departments, underscoring the Government’s coordinated approach towards unlocking investment and sustainable growth in the sector.

Discussions focused on strengthening partnerships to support key investment areas within the Maritime and Blue Economy, a sector with significant potential to drive economic growth, job creation, trade, energy sustainability, and food security. The engagement emphasized the need for a holistic and sustainable approach to sector development, while addressing the existing knowledge gap among investors on the scale and commercial potential of opportunities available.

Among the priority areas identified as bankable projects were fisheries and aquaculture, seafarer training, value addition, fuel bunkering, transshipment, and green and renewable energy initiatives.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between Government and financial institutions in positioning Kenya as a leading maritime and blue economy hub in the region. PS Betsy Njagi CBS - Blue Economy PS Aden Abdi Millah Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs

Happy Labour Day PS Aden Abdi Millah

The State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs Secretary Administration (SA) Ms Fauzia Suleiman represented the PS Shipping and Maritime Affairs in a tree growing activity;mangrove restoration exercise at the Mwache Mangrove Conservation Area in Tsunza.
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‎The activity was led by the Principal Secretary State Department for Mining Mr. Harry Kimtai who represented the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Ali Hassan Joho.
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‎PS Mr. Harry Kimtai together with the staff drawn from the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs planted over 20,000 mangrove trees.
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‎This initiative is a direct contribution to the Government’s ambitious target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032, a cornerstone of our national environmental strategy.
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‎PS Mr. Harry Kimtai lauded the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), for its continuous partnership with the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs which has been instrumental in ensuring that the ministry attains it's tree growing set target.
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‎"I also want to recognize the Community Forest Associations for their tireless efforts in nurturing these trees to maturity", said PS Kimtai.
WWF-Kenya Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Bandari Maritime Academy Kenya Maritime Authority

‎This morning, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Mr. Aden Millah, led a high-level technical delegation in a strategic follow up meeting with the Danish Ambassador to Kenya.
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‎The session served as a pivotal follow-up to the enduring maritime cooperation agreements between the two nations, focusing on the sustained implementation of bilateral objectives.
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‎ This multifaceted collaboration continues to drive progress across three critical pillars: maritime security, institutional capacity building, and advanced maritime education.
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‎Beyond technical cooperation, the discussions highlighted Kenya’s advanced preparations for hosting the prestigious 'Our Ocean' Conference, scheduled for June 17th–18th June 2026.
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‎The meeting underscored the importance of international synergy in addressing oceanic challenges, positioning Kenya as a regional leader in maritime governance.
‎Building upon decades of mutual partnership, Kenya and Denmark remain steadfast in their shared commitment to maritime excellence.