Kenya: Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with Indo-Pacific nations to enhance maritime security amid growing threats from piracy, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and other organised maritime crimes.
According to Kenya News Agency, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen, says stronger international partnerships are critical to safeguarding global sea routes, protecting vulnerable populations, and supporting international trade and economic growth.
Speaking in Mombasa during the opening of the Fourth Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) Steering Committee High-Level Meeting, Murkomen noted that cooperation among nations remains vital in ensuring secure maritime transport and sustaining regional and global economies.
Murkomen highlighted the impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis as a demonstration of the vulnerabilities that arise when maritime transport routes are disrupted. He emphasized the need to tackle transnational maritime threats such as piracy, armed robbery at sea, IUU fishing, and the dumping of hazardous materials on sea beds.
Kenya is a member of IORIS, a neutral and secure digital platform developed under the European Union’s CRIMARIO project. The platform facilitates national and regional coordination in maritime operations, crisis management, and information sharing, thereby enhancing inter-agency collaboration. It is currently utilized by over 150 maritime organizations across more than 50 countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Murkomen praised the European Union for its partnership with Kenya, which has led to improved maritime safety and security. He noted that the IORIS platform has been instrumental in strengthening Kenya’s national security framework and safeguarding freedom of navigation.
He also announced the development of a mobile application, Usalama Baharini, by the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) in collaboration with the EU CRIMARIO project. This app is integrated into the IORIS platform and aids in maritime domain awareness by allowing the KCGS to access critical security information in real-time.
EU CRIMARIO Director Martin Inglot emphasized the necessity of international cooperation to protect critical underwater infrastructure, including submarine cables essential for global systems and markets. He suggested that the IORIS platform could provide a solution through its trusted information-sharing system.
KCGS Director General, Bruno Shioso, noted that the three-day meeting, co-hosted by the KCGS and EU CRIMARIO, gathered delegates from various regions to address shared maritime challenges and explore strategic cooperation.
