Kenya is set to make history as the first African nation to host the prestigious Our Ocean Conference (OOC), with the 11th edition scheduled to take place from June 8 to 12, 2026, in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
The high-level global meeting will be held under the theme “Our Oceans, Our Heritage, Our Future”, with the tagline “One Ocean, a Shared Future”.
The Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Ali Hassan Joho said that Kenya is fully prepared to host the event noting that the conference would place Kenya at the centre of global ocean diplomacy, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, scientists, private sector players, civil society, and coastal communities to accelerate action on ocean protection and sustainable use.
“Covering more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, oceans are critical to life on the planet, producing over half of the oxygen humans breathe, regulating the climate, and supporting billions of livelihoods. However, they are under severe threat from climate change, overfishing, marine pollution, biodiversity loss, and maritime insecurity,” said the CS.
Since its launch in 2014, the Our Ocean Conference has mobilised more than 2,600 commitments valued at over USD 140 billion toward marine conservation, climate adaptation, fisheries reform, and ocean governance. Yet, implementation gaps remain, with less than half of the commitments fully delivered, an issue OOC11 seeks to confront head-on.
Hosting the conference gives Kenya and Africa a unique opportunity to shape global solutions and ensure that commitments translate into real, measurable impact, particularly for developing coastal nations.
For Kenya, OOC11 is more than a diplomatic milestone. It is a strategic platform to showcase the country’s growing leadership in the blue economy, advocate for fair access to ocean resources, and mobilise investment to support sustainable development across Africa and the Global South.
The conference will align global ocean commitments with key international frameworks, including the UN High Seas Treaty (BBNJ), the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, climate action under the UNFCCC, and Africa’s Agenda 2063, ensuring coherence between global ambition and local realities.
A key innovation of OOC11 would be the introduction of an OOC11 Declaration and thematic Compacts, supported by a Digital Commitments Tracker and annual progress reporting. This accountability framework is designed to ensure pledges are finance backed, transparent, and verifiable.
The CS noted that the Kenyan-hosted conference was expected to mark a decisive shift in the Our Ocean process by placing Global South leadership at its core. It would amplify the voices of coastal communities, women, youth, and indigenous peoples, while promoting inclusive and equitable ocean governance.
OOC11 will advance action across nine interlinked thematic areas, including climate change, sustainable fisheries, blue economy financing, marine protected areas, maritime security, marine pollution, ocean science and technology, equity and coastal livelihoods, and international marine science cooperation.
Among the flagship outcomes expected are Africa-led initiatives on fisheries transparency, green shipping corridors, plastic pollution reduction, and a Global South Blue Economy Investment Platform aimed at mobilising an estimated USD 60 billion in bankable projects.
The conference is expected to attract up to 3,500 delegates, including heads of states, ministers, multilateral organisations, private sector leaders, researchers, civil society groups, and representatives of vulnerable coastal and island states.
Special provisions will be made to ensure meaningful participation of least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS), reinforcing the conference’s commitment to inclusivity.
As Kenya prepares to welcome the world to its coast, OOC11 is being positioned as a delivery focused summit, designed to move the global ocean agenda from dialogue to action. Its legacy will be measured not only by ambitious commitments but also by sustained implementation, transparent reporting, and long-term impact.
“By hosting OOC11, Kenya seeks to leave a lasting imprint on global ocean governance, one that ensures future generations inherit a resilient, productive, and just ocean,” noted CS Ali Hassan Joho.
By Justus Anzaya
