Kenya Maritime Authority Unveils New Seafarers Wages Council Members
labour and skills principal secretary Shadrack Mwadime 9Photo by Robby Ngoba)
By Harrison Kivisu
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Kenya Maritime Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour has inaugurated the newly gazetted members of the Seafarers Wages Council.
The council, composed of ten members, is now tasked with roles of safeguarding the rights and warfare of seafarers in the country and beyond.
Mwinyi Jahazi, was inaugurated as the chairman of the 10 member council which has hit the ground running to safeguard the welfare of seafarers.
The formation of the SWC marks a significant step in safeguarding the rights and welfare of seafarers, thus, reinforcing Kenya’s commitment to international maritime labour standards.
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, a key international maritime labour law, sets out fundamental rights for seafarers, including fair wages, reasonable working hours, health and safety protections, and social security.
Speaking at the inauguration function held in Kilifi on April 4, 2025, the labour cabinet secretary Dr Alfred Mutua asked the newly inaugurated team to work in harmony for the benefit of seafarers.
“I urge you to cease this opportunity to make a lasting difference to seafarers. Let us all work together for the benefit of seafarers and the growth of the Kenyan maritime industry.”
On his part, outgoing Maritime principal secretary Geoffrey Kaituko said: “The role of the SWC is to safeguard the rights & welfare of our seafarers both in Kenya & across the globe.”
The SWC was established by Gazette Notice of Kenya No. 11089 & 1708 and constitutes ten members with extensive experience & expertise in seafaring.
“Kenya has the opportunity to build a stronger and more sustainable maritime workforce by aligning its policies with International Standards,” the PS said.
Speaking during the induction of the council in same event, the labour and skills principal secretary Shadrack Mwadime said the establishment of the body was pivotal to ensure fair wages and prevent exploitation of Kenyan seafarers.
He emphasized the long journey towards formalising the SWC; a process he has been actively involved in since his tenure as PS for Maritime then.
“The formalization of the SWC has been a journey I’ve been deeply involved in. Starting during my tenure as PS for Maritime.”
The PS highlighted the critical need to address the unique challenges faced by seafarers and acknowledged the extensive groundwork laid to establish the council.
He urged council members to dedicate their efforts to upholding the protections afforded by this vital international standard.
To effectively discharge their roles, Mr Mwadime advised the council to adopt best practices from successful maritime nations and continuously engage in capacity-building initiatives.
“To discharge these roles, the Council should strive to carry out comparative learning in other successful countries and engage in continuous capacity building which is paramount in providing a forum for members to discuss, consult, and make crucial decisions while equipping them with adequate governance skills.”
The newly appointed seafarers council chairman Mwinyi Jahazi pledged to deliver on his mandate and asked relevant authorities to grant him the necessary support.
“We have a role to play, and that is to ensure our seafarers rights are protected,” he and pledged to deliver in the three years period he will be in the office.
