Kenya’s Maritime Crisis: Addressing Seafarer Student Unrest at MET Institutions

By Andrew Mwangura

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

In recent months, Kenya’s Maritime Education and Training (MET) institutions have been rocked by unprecedented student protests and picketing. 

With students now planning to escalate their actions by picketing outside the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) headquarters on March 17, 2025 the situation has reached a critical point.

These demonstrations highlight a deep-rooted crisis in the nation’s maritime education sector that threatens not only the future of aspiring seafarers but also Kenya’s ambitions to become a regional maritime powerhouse.

The Perfect Storm

The unrest among maritime students stems from systemic failures that have been allowed to fester for far too long.

Chronic underfunding of MET institutions has resulted in deteriorating facilities, outdated equipment, and insufficient teaching resources.

In an industry where hands-on training with modern technology is essential, this underfunding represents a critical failure to invest in Kenya’s maritime future.

Perhaps most concerning is the severe shortage of training berths for cadets. 

Without mandatory sea time, these students cannot complete their qualifications or secure employment in the industry they’ve trained for.

This bottleneck has created a backlog of qualified but uncertified maritime professionals—a wasted resource for a nation with extensive coastlines and maritime potential.

The crisis is further exacerbated by allegations of nepotism and corruption in the nomination process for cadet placements aboard foreign vessels. 

Students report that connections and bribes, rather than merit, often determine who receives these coveted opportunities.

Such practices not only demoralise deserving students, but also undermine the integrity of Kenya’s maritime education system.

Training agreements with foreign shipping companies remain shrouded in secrecy, with little transparency regarding how many positions are available and how they are allocated.

This opacity breeds distrust and fuels speculation about mismanagement and favoritism.

Structural Failures

At the heart of these issues lies a fundamental governance gap: Kenya lacks both a National Merchant Navy Training Board and a structured seafarer training program. 

Without these essential frameworks, training standards remain inconsistent, career progression paths unclear, and quality control measures inadequate.

The absence of recognized student organizations within MET institutions has left students without legitimate channels to voice their concerns, forcing them to resort to protests when dialogue fails.

This representation gap prevents early identification and resolution of issues before they escalate into disruptive demonstrations.

High Cost of Inaction

The ongoing unrest carries significant consequences. Educational disruptions delay graduation for current students, exacerbating an already lengthy training process.

The international reputation of Kenya’s maritime training suffers, potentially reducing opportunities for placement with foreign shipping companies.

Most concerning is the growing disillusionment among talented young Kenyans who may abandon maritime careers altogether—a devastating brain drain in a sector already struggling with skilled personnel shortages.

Path Forward

Establishing legitimate student organizations within MET institutions must be prioritized. 

These bodies would provide formal channels for students to express concerns, participate in decision-making, and collaborate with administration on solutions.

Such organizations should be democratically elected, officially recognized, and given meaningful seats at policy-making tables.

Equally urgent is the creation of a National Merchant Navy Training Board with representation from government, industry, training institutions, and student bodies.

This board would standardize training curricula, ensure compliance with international standards, coordinate training berth allocations transparently, and provide long-term strategic planning for the sector.

Measures Before March Protest

With students set to picket outside KMA on March 17th, immediate action is essential to prevent further escalation.

To the KMA and Ministry of Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, I urge an emergency stakeholder meeting before the protest date, bringing together officials, institution administrators, and elected student representatives.

This meeting should address immediate grievances and establish a clear timeline for implementing reforms.

The authority should immediately announce a transparent review of the cadet nomination process and commit to publishing allocation statistics for training berths within two weeks. 

Such a good-faith gesture could significantly defuse tensions before the planned demonstration.

MET institutions should designate official student representatives this week and schedule urgent forums to document specific concerns. 

Administrators must recognize that these protests stem from legitimate grievances that require substantive, not symbolic, responses.

For student representatives organising the March 17th protest, I recommend developing a clear, concise list of demands with reasonable timeframes for implementation. 

Maintain discipline during demonstrations, designate media spokespersons, and remain open to dialogue if meaningful concessions are offered. 

Consider whether a temporary postponement of protests might be warranted if genuine commitments to reform are made.

Chart New Course

Kenya stands at a critical juncture in its maritime development. With the African Continental Free Trade Area creating new opportunities and the Blue Economy initiative highlighting maritime sectors as growth engines, we cannot afford to neglect the education and training of our seafarers.

The current unrest represents not just a crisis but an opportunity for comprehensive reform. By addressing the legitimate concerns of maritime students, establishing proper governance structures, and committing to transparency and merit-based opportunities, Kenya can transform its maritime education sector from a source of frustration to a model of excellence.

The future captains, engineers, and maritime professionals of Kenya deserve nothing less than a world-class education system that prepares them to compete globally while contributing to national development. The time for incremental changes has passed—bold, systemic reform is now required.

The sea has always been a pathway to prosperity for nations wise enough to invest in maritime capability. For Kenya to claim its rightful place as an emerging maritime nation, we must first calm the waters of discontent among those who will one Day navigate our ships across the world’s oceans.