Kenya to host 2026 ocean conference, a first for Africa

President William Ruto speaks during an interview at a hotel in Seoul on June 5, 2024, on the sidelines of the 2024 Korea- Africa Summit. [AFP]

Kenya will host the 11th edition of the Our Ocean Conference in 2026, becoming the first African country to do so.

The decision is a recognition of Kenya's growing influence and leadership in marine conservation, climate action, and sustainable development, according to President William Ruto.

The annual summit, launched in 2014, brings together governments, NGOs, scientists, private sector leaders, and civil society to address threats to ocean health, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and food insecurity.

Ruto hailed the decision as a major opportunity for Kenya to showcase its blue economy agenda and lead Africa's climate action efforts in the Indian Ocean region.

"The conference will be an apt opportunity for Kenya to highlight our blue economy agenda and champion Africa's climate action on oceans, especially in the Indian Ocean, which is a shared resource among 23 countries," said Ruto.

Kenya was selected to host the conference following a recommendation by the event's Advisory Group, citing the country's 'excellent' environmental policies and global leadership on ocean issues.

Ruto also noted that former US Secretary of State John Kerry-who founded the conference-expressed full support for Kenya's hosting bid during a recent phone call.

The Our Ocean Conference has mobilised more than 2,600 commitments and over $140 billion (Sh18.2 trillion) in pledges to protect marine ecosystems since its inception. The 10th edition will be held in South Korea in April 2025 under the theme "Our Ocean, Our Action."

Kenya's selection also reflects its growing role as a host of major international events. In the past year, it hosted the Blu Invest Africa Forum, the IUFRO World Congress, the Africa Climate Summit, and the IDA21 Heads of State Summit, strengthening its profile in global climate diplomacy.

A Cabinet dispatch noted that hosting such events advances the country's foreign policy goals, with climate resilience and ocean health forming key pillars of its international agenda.