Our Oceans, Our Future: A Call to Action for Kenya’s Coastal Communities

By Andrew Mwangura

An Editorial Opinion on World Ocean Day 2025

As we observe World Ocean Day on June 8th, 2025, we stand at a critical juncture in our relationship with the ocean that defines much of Kenya’s identity and economic potential. 

Since its inception at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, this annual observance has evolved from a simple awareness campaign to an urgent call for transformative action. 

For Kenya, with its 536-kilometer coastline along the Indian Ocean, this day carries profound significance that extends far beyond ceremonial recognition.

Ocean’s Bounty and Our Responsibility

The Indian Ocean has been Kenya’s gateway to the world for centuries, supporting thriving fishing communities, enabling international trade, and nurturing marine ecosystems of extraordinary biodiversity.

From the coral reefs of Malindi to the mangrove forests of Lamu, our coastal waters sustain millions of livelihoods while providing critical ecosystem services that regulate climate, protect shorelines, and support food security.

Yet beneath the surface of this azure expanse lies a troubling reality. Rising sea levels threaten coastal infrastructure, plastic pollution chokes marine life, and overfishing depletes fish stocks that have sustained communities for generations.

The very ocean that has been our source of prosperity now faces unprecedented challenges that demand immediate, coordinated response.

Blueprint for Coastal Stewardship

The path forward requires unprecedented collaboration between government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and local communities.

The following advisory framework provides a roadmap for sustainable ocean stewardship.

Hotel Industry and Coastal Tourism Sector

Kenya’s coastal tourism industry, centered in Mombasa, Malindi, Watamu, and Diani, must evolve beyond traditional hospitality to become champions of marine conservation. 

Hotels and resorts should implement comprehensive waste management systems that eliminate single-use plastics, establish marine protected areas in partnership with local communities, and integrate ocean education into guest experiences.

The industry’s economic success depends entirely on healthy marine ecosystems. Coral bleaching, beach erosion, and pollution directly threaten the natural attractions that draw millions of visitors annually.

By investing in sustainable practices now, the tourism sector can secure its long-term viability while contributing to ocean health.

Fishing and Processing Industry

Kenya’s fishing communities along the coast face the dual challenge of declining fish stocks and increasing competition from industrial fishing operations.

Sustainable fishing practices, including the adoption of selective fishing gear, respect for seasonal closures, and community-based fisheries management, represent not just environmental imperatives but economic necessities.

The processing industry must embrace circular economy principles, utilizing fish waste for value-added products while ensuring that processing facilities meet international environmental standards.

Investment in cold chain infrastructure and sustainable processing technologies will enhance both product quality and environmental performance.

County Governments Along the Coastal Strip

Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Taita-Taveta, and Kwale counties bear primary responsibility for coastal zone management. 

These governments must develop and implement integrated coastal management plans that balance development needs with environmental protection.

This includes establishing buffer zones around sensitive ecosystems, regulating coastal construction, and ensuring that development projects undergo rigorous environmental impact assessments.

County governments should also invest in waste management infrastructure, particularly for plastic waste, and establish marine protected areas in collaboration with local communities.

The blue economy presents significant opportunities for job creation and economic growth, but only if managed sustainably.

For NEMA

National Environment Management Authority’s (NEMA) role as Kenya’s environmental watchdog becomes increasingly critical as coastal development accelerates.

The authority must strengthen monitoring and enforcement capabilities, particularly for marine pollution, illegal fishing, and coastal construction violations.

Environmental impact assessments for coastal projects should incorporate climate change projections and cumulative impact analysis.

NEMA should also lead the development of a national marine spatial planning framework that coordinates uses of ocean space while protecting critical habitats. This includes establishing clear guidelines for offshore activities, marine transportation, and coastal development.

For KMA

The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) must enhance its capacity to monitor and regulate maritime activities while promoting sustainable shipping practices.

This includes implementing ballast water management protocols to prevent invasive species introduction, establishing emission control areas to reduce air pollution from ships, and strengthening port waste reception facilities.

KMA should also develop a comprehensive maritime safety framework that protects both human life and marine ecosystems. 

This includes emergency response capabilities for oil spills and other maritime accidents that could devastate coastal environments.

Economic Imperative

Kenya’s blue economy potential extends far beyond traditional maritime activities. 

Sustainable ocean use could generate billions in revenue through marine biotechnology, renewable energy, sustainable aquaculture, and eco-tourism.

However, realizing this potential requires healthy ocean ecosystems as the foundation.

The cost of inaction far exceeds the investment required for sustainable ocean management. Coastal erosion already threatens billions of shillings in infrastructure, while declining fish stocks undermine food security for millions of Kenyans. 

Climate change impacts, including sea level rise and ocean acidification, will only intensify these challenges.

Vision for 2030

As we work toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Kenya has the opportunity to become a global leader in sustainable ocean management.

This requires a fundamental shift from viewing the ocean as an inexhaustible resource to recognizing it as a complex ecosystem requiring careful stewardship.

By 2030, Kenya’s coastal communities should enjoy improved livelihoods supported by thriving marine ecosystems.

Our beaches should be free of plastic pollution, our coral reefs should be recovering from bleaching events, and our fishing communities should be managing marine resources sustainably for future generations.

Call to Action

World Ocean Day 2025 must mark a turning point in Kenya’s relationship with the ocean. Every stakeholder – from hotel managers to county commissioners, from fishing boat captains to NEMA officials – has a role to play in this transformation.

The ocean that has sustained Kenya for millennia now needs our protection. The question is not whether we can afford to act, but whether we can afford not to.

Our children and grandchildren will inherit the ocean we leave them. Let us ensure it remains a source of life, prosperity, and wonder for generations to come.

The time for half-measures and delayed action has passed. The ocean is calling, and Kenya must answer with the urgency and determination this crisis demands.

*This editorial represents a call to action for all stakeholders in Kenya’s blue economy. The ocean’s future – and our own – depends on the choices we make today.*