The government is in full support of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and its leadership, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Aden Millah, has said.
The PS made the remarks today during his familiarisation tour and in a meeting with the KMA Board and the incoming Director General, CPA Justus Nyarandi. Nyarandi succeeded Isaiah Nakoru, who served in an acting capacity.
The Chairman of the KMA Board of Directors, Ahmed Kolosh, announced the appointment of the incoming CEO and highlighted his extensive experience in global maritime and shipping affairs.
Addressing the media in Mombasa, Mr Millah said that the government will continue to provide an enabling environment as well as invest in maritime infrastructure and strengthen regional cooperation to ensure the authority’s success.
Millah said the appointment comes at a defining moment for the maritime industry, a time when visionary leadership is needed to steer the sector towards sustained growth and transformation.
He noted the appointee brings with him decades of experience in maritime affairs, regional diplomacy and public administration.
“His deep knowledge and commitment to advancing regional integration and port development make him exceptionally well suited to lead the authority to the future,” added the PS.
He reiterated that the maritime sector is not merely an economic pillar; it is the heartbeat of national and regional connectivity.
“Kenya’s strategic location along the Indian Ocean positions us as a vital gateway to East and Central Africa. The Port of Mombasa and related maritime infrastructure remain central to trade, logistics and the broader Blue Economy,” he said.
The PS said the maritime industry plays a pivotal role in advancing our national development goals under Vision 2030, the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and in unlocking the vast opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He urged all stakeholders, both public and private, as well as the international maritime community, to collaborate with and support the incoming DG in transforming both the authority and the maritime sector at large.
“We are confident that as CPA Nyarandi takes the helm at KMA, he does so with our full trust and unwavering support. His appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with promise for growth, resilience and greater global competitiveness, all in pursuit of positioning Kenya as a leading maritime nation,” he added.
By Chari Suche
