Funding woes scuttle key Seafarers Council's work

Since its inauguration on April 4 last year in Kilifi County by the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Dr Alfred Mutua, the Seafarers Wages Council (SWC) has yet to start work due to a lack of funds.

The 11-member council was tasked with protecting the rights and welfare of seafarers, including fair pay, safety and security. The team is chaired by a Mombasa-based maritime logistics expert Mwinyi Jahazi. The council is supposed to operate under the Labour and Social Protection Ministry.

It came into being after Kenya ratified the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The SWC was established by Kenya gazette notice number 11089 & 1708 and comprises members with extensive experience and expertise in seafaring.

Kenya ratified the MLC in 2013, but setting up a functional council has since proved a challenge.

The MLC 2006 is a key international maritime labour law that sets out fundamental rights for seafarers, including fair wages, reasonable working hours, health and safety and social security.

Membership of the council is drawn from the Labour Ministry, Kenya Maritime Authority, Seafarers Union of Kenya, Shipping Office, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) and Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE).

Maritime industry stakeholders had lauded the formation of the SWC, saying it marked a significant step in reinforcing Kenya’s commitment to international maritime labour standards, but their hopes have since been dashed after the council’s operations stalled.

The council is yet to establish its own secretariat, with staff and the council members meeting only once, nearly a year later. The team has no office or address and has yet to draw up and implement programmes.

Jahazi, however, is hopeful that the council could get funds this year.

“The delay to start operations is due to a lack of budget. We hope we will get funds this year to set up an office, draw up our strategic plan and start operations. We urgently need to set up a permanent address,” Jahazi said.

He said the council plans to engage various maritime stakeholders in the region once funds are made available to the team.

In separate interviews, former Seafarers Union of Kenya (SUK) General Secretaries Andrew Mwangura and Stephen Owaki said the delay to operationalise SWC is holding the industry back.

“Many Kenyan seafarers employed on cargo ships have returned to the country after four months on board foreign vessels instead of completing their contractual term of nine months because they have no Seafarers’ Identity Documents (SIDs). Brazil and countries in North America are strict on SIDs, and hence, Kenyan seafarers disembark from the ships headed there and become jobless. This is a loss to the country,” stated Owaki. He noted that Kenyan seafarers now seek employment on cruise ships because of the SID travel restrictions.

Last year, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Hassan Joho pledged to fast-track the issuance of SIDs to promote seafaring, but the issue is yet to be resolved.

Maritime expert Andrew Mwangura noted that Kenya exhibited “sea blindness” as far back as 1965, when the government failed to prioritise the exploitation of marine resources.

To address this long-standing neglect, Mwangura has urged the government to convene a national maritime convention to discuss the development of a vibrant Seafarers Wages Council (SWC), the revitalisation of the Kenya National Shipping Line (KNSL), the establishment of an open ship register, and the issuance of the “elusive” Seafarer’s Identity Document (SID) to facilitate free travel for Kenyan maritime workers. 

Mwangura further argued that Kenya has historically focused on air transport and seaports at the expense of the KNSL. He suggested adopting Bare Boat Charters (BBCs)—hiring ships without crews—to allow the KNSL to manage vessels, transport cargo, and employ local seafarers.

He also recommended signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with major maritime nations like the UK, Singapore, Norway, and Denmark to bolster the sector.

These concerns follow a significant decline in Kenya’s international maritime influence. On November 28, 2025, Kenya was voted out of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council and replaced by Nigeria and South Africa. This loss, coupled with a failed bid for the IMO Secretary-General post two years ago, has been described by stakeholders as a “sobering moment” for the country’s foreign policy.

In response to these challenges, the government recently inaugurated the Seafarers Wages Council (SWC). While a previous iteration—the Maritime Wages Council (MWC)—was rendered inactive by three years of court battles, the new SWC is intended to ensure fair pay and decent working conditions.