Nairobi: Kenya has embarked on preparations for next year's Our Ocean Conference (OOC) after the country was granted the rights to host the global event for the first time on the continent. Top government officials held a consultative meeting chaired by the Deputy Head of the Public Service, Amos Gathecha, to brainstorm on preparation for the 11th OOC in 2026, marking the maiden time the global summit is held in Africa.
According to Kenya News Agency, the country was granted the hosting rights earlier this year when the Republic of Korea handed over the mantle during the 10th OOC. The high-level forum is expected to draw at least 4,000 participants to Kenya's coastal region. Delegates will include heads of state and government, ministers, scientists, philanthropists, private sector leaders, civil society organizations, and ocean champions.
Gathecha, in his inaugural meeting with key stakeholders from relevant government agencies at Harambee House, stated that the newly formed National Project Steering Committee is to oversee the planning of the event. He said respective Principal Secretaries were tasked with spearheading national preparations for the 2026 conference, adding that the country is privileged to be the center of the global conversation on ocean governance and the sustainable blue economy.
Gathecha highlighted Kenya's track record in successfully hosting international meetings, citing the 2018 Sustainable Blue Economy Conference and TICAD VI in 2016, where the country delivered a world-class reception for participants during the two global summits. "The 11th OOC will showcase the richness of our marine resources and the innovations our people are driving in ocean protection," he stated. He further stressed that inclusivity will guide the planning process, with particular emphasis on engaging coastal communities, youth, researchers, and innovators.
Previous editions of the annual event were hosted in Chile, Malta, Norway, and Palau, with the recent one held in the Republic of Korea in 2025. Principal Secretary for the State Department for the Blue Economy and Fisheries, Betsy Njagi, who presented Kenya's roadmap, said the conference will provide Africa with an opportunity to influence the global ocean agenda.
Other attendees included Principal Secretaries Belio Kipsang (Immigration and Citizen Services), Festus K. Ng'eno (Environment and Climate Change), Mohamed Daghar (Transport), John Ololtuaa (Tourism and Wildlife), and Fikirini Jacobs (Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy). Since the inception of the OOC summit in 2014, which premiered in the United States of America, the conference has generated over 2,000 commitments aimed at reducing marine pollution, expanding marine protected areas, combating illegal fishing, and promoting sustainable blue finance.