Confusion over seafarer IDs exposes gaps in maritime governance

The government’s delay in issuing Seafarers’ Identification Documents (SIDs) is threatening the jobs of thousands of Kenyan seafarers and exposing gaps in the country’s maritime governance.

Experts attribute the delays largely to the lack of a single authority to oversee the process: From policy formulation to issuance, with maritime services currently spread across multiple government departments.

They argue that responsibility for issuing SIDs should rest with the industry regulator, the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), rather than the immigration or labour departments.

Independent maritime consultant Andrew Mwangura says the country’s seafarers are unable to compete in the global labour market or enjoy the protections that such documents guarantee.

“The stagnation of this process raises uncomfortable questions about political will, administrative seriousness and the value Kenya places on its maritime workforce,’’ he said.

Under the International Labour Organisation’s Convention No. 185, SIDs confirm a seafarer’s identity and professional status, facilitating shore leave, transit and employment across borders. For seafarers, the SID is as essential as a passport. 

‘’Without it, Kenyan seafarers face routine visa denials, restricted movement in foreign ports and exclusion from job opportunities that demand compliance with international security and labour requirements. In effect, they are rendered invisible in an industry that depends on mobility and trust. Kenya’s delay cannot be explained by lack of awareness,’’ he said.

unfulfilled promises

Mwangura said the issue has been discussed repeatedly in maritime forums, union engagements and policy circles, and committees have been formed, but still, there has been no solution.

“This suggests that the problem is not technical complexity but institutional inertia. The technology to issue secure biometric documents exists,” he said.

He said that the maritime labour matters in Kenya sit awkwardly between multiple agencies with overlapping mandates and unclear leadership.

“When accountability is diluted, urgency evaporates. Each institution can plausibly claim that the matter lies elsewhere, resulting in endless consultations and no execution. Meanwhile, seafarers continue to bear the cost of this administrative tug-of-war,” said the former Seafarers Union of Kenya (SUK) official.

Steve Owaki, also former SUK official, said the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), the industry regulator, should lead the process of issuing the SID. 

‘’KMA as the lead maritime regulator should be in charge of the process. At some point, we were informed it was the work of the Immigration Department to help with the rolling out of the SID. There is total confusion which needs to be cleared,’’ he said.

Mwangura added that equally troubling is the apparent disconnect between Kenya’s blue economy ambitions and the treatment of seafarers.

Building mistrust

“Government rhetoric frequently celebrates the blue economy as a pillar of national growth, emphasising important linkage between ports, shipping lanes and maritime trade. Yet the human capital that animates this economy is neglected. Seafarers are not peripheral actors; they are the engine of maritime commerce,” Mwangura said.

“Failing to secure their documentation undermines the credibility of Kenya’s broader maritime aspirations and signals a preference for infrastructure over people.” 

He noted that the stagnation also reflects a deeper undervaluation of labour voices, as seafarers’ unions and associations have consistently raised this issue, often with clear, practical proposals. 

“This pattern reinforces a perception that maritime labour concerns are tolerated rhetorically but deprioritised in practice. Over time, such neglect erodes trust between workers and the state, breeding cynicism and disengagement in a sector that relies on discipline and professionalism,” he added.

There are real economic consequences to this delay. Kenyan seafarers lose contracts to peers from countries with compliant documentation regimes. 

Foreign shipowners, maritime stakeholders have severally expressed concerns over port state controls and immigration complications, thereby avoiding to hire Kenyans. This translates into lost remittances, diminished skills transfer and a shrinking footprint for Kenya in the global seafaring labour market.

‘’Where leadership is decisive, administrative obstacles are resolved. Where commitment is weak, processes stagnate indefinitely. Kenya’s seafarers have waited long enough,” he said.

Mwangura concludes that it is time President William Ruto intervenes to save Kenyan seafarers from this challenge.