🌊 Reflections on the Launch of the Kenya Ocean Centre: Charting a New Course for Coastal Collaboration

1. What is the UN Global Compact (UNGC)?

2. What is the Ocean Centres Initiative?

3. Why is the Kenya's Ocean Centre So Important?

4. Key Takeaways From Experts and Community Leaders

5. Ocean Sole's Reflections

6. What Come's Next For Kenya's Blue Economy?

On 7 August 2025, Ocean Sole was honored to attend the official launch of the Kenya Ocean Centre in Mombasa — part of the Ocean Centres Initiative, a groundbreaking project supported by the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

The event brought together voices from science, policy, business, and community — all committed to a shared goal: building a sustainable, inclusive, and safe ocean economy for Kenya.

Phillipa Mary kicked off the event with heart, humor, and even a round of the chicken dance — a joyful start to a serious conversation.

Our warmest thanks go to Olive Mumbo, Country Project Manager, Ocean Centre, UNGC Kenya, for organizing a truly inspiring day of dialogue and direction.

🌍 What Is the UN Global Compact (UNGC)?

The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. It helps companies align strategies and operations with ten universal principles related to:

• Human rights

• Labor

• Environment

• Anti-corruption

By joining UNGC, businesses voluntarily commit to integrating sustainability into their core operations — and contributing to the broader UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Kenya, this means activating the private sector to help solve national challenges — including those affecting the blue economy.

🌊 What Is the Ocean Centres Initiative?

The Ocean Centres Initiative is a new global framework to create national hubs in ocean-facing countries — like Kenya — where knowledge, technology, policy, and community leadership can meet.

Led by the UN Global Compact and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, Ocean Centres are being developed across seven countries including Indonesia, the Philippines, Ghana, and Kenya.

Beth Elliot shared the vision behind the Ocean Centres Initiative from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s perspective — emphasizing safety, science, and shared responsibility.

In Kenya, this centre will:

• Build bridges between government, scientists, coastal communities, and private sector players

• Foster data-informed decision-making and inclusive policy

• Empower grassroots voices in marine governance

• Strengthen resilience, safety, and sustainability in maritime industries

• Position Kenya as a leader in ocean governance ahead of the 2026 UN Ocean Conference

🇰🇪 Why Is the Kenya Ocean Centre So Important?

Kenya’s economy, culture, and food systems are deeply tied to the ocean — but years of extractive practices, underinvestment, and climate change have put coastal communities at risk.

Speakers at the event shared bold visions for change:

“What is Mombasa without the ocean?” – Hon. Francis Thoya, Deputy County Governor, Mombasa County

“Safety should be seen as a driver of progress, not as a cost.” – Vanessa Harwood, Lloyd’s Register Foundation

“Policy must be rooted in practice. We should practice good policy at a micro level within our businesses” – Mercy Mukulu, Westerwelle Foundation Kenya

🔬 Key Takeaways from Experts & Community Leaders

💡 Scientific & Traditional Knowledge:

• Prof. Cosmas Munga emphasized the need to protect small-scale fisheries through data and traditional conservation (like seasonal octopus closures).

• Benedict Kiilu warned about marine infrastructure impacts — such as EMFs from ports disrupting shark and ray migration.

• Captain Liz Marami called for green maritime infrastructure, like cold ironing and clean fuel adoption in port cities.

👥 Community Voices:

• Judith Akinyi, a seafood vendor, shared the challenges of losing stock due to poor infrastructure.

• Others highlighted the need for micro-level interventions and grassroots-led solutions that can scale.

🐠 Ocean Sole’s Reflections

As a social enterprise working with marine waste and coastal artisans, Ocean Sole is deeply aligned with the values behind the Ocean Centres Initiative.

We believe Kenya’s fish stocks — and ocean economy — should be admired not just for their output, but for how responsibly and regeneratively they’re managed.

The Ocean Centre is more than a place — it’s a platform for co-creation, collaboration, and community-led change.

We’re excited to see traditional knowledge, scientific insight, and private sector action finally moving in step toward a thriving blue future for Kenya.

Ocean Sole’s Rehema and Thomas settling in for a day of learning, dialogue, and new partnerships for ocean impact.

🙏 Thank You

To all who contributed ideas, energy, and experience — thank you.

Special thanks to:

• Olive Mumbo, UNGC Kenya

• Beth Elliot from Lloyd’s Register Foundation

• Amb. Nancy Karigithu, Judy Njino, Francis Thoya, and all the speakers who inspired us with clarity and courage.

💙 What Comes Next for Kenya’s Blue Economy?

With the launch of the Ocean Centre, Kenya has taken a meaningful step toward a more inclusive, informed, and resilient blue economy.

What comes next is about collaboration, investment, and accountability — across science, policy, community, and enterprise. For Kenya, this means:

• Prioritizing small-scale fisheries and local livelihoods in marine planning

• Building green maritime infrastructure and decarbonizing port cities

• Investing in ocean literacy and traditional knowledge systems

• Creating spaces where data, dialogue, and dignity go hand in hand

At Ocean Sole, we’ll continue to amplify community voices, offer creative solutions to marine waste, and support projects that bring together art, impact, and policy.

If you're working on Kenya’s ocean future, we'd love to be part of that journey with you.

📩 Reach us at impact@oceansole.com🌐 Support us: www.oceansole.com