President William Ruto on Thursday toured the state-of-the-art Norwegian research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen at the Port of Mombasa (Mbaraki), highlighting Kenya’s commitment to the blue economy and sustainable ocean management.
The visit came shortly after Ruto returned from the G7 Summit in France and during the final day of the 11th Our Ocean Conference, hosted by Kenya in Mombasa from June 16–18 under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future.” This marks the first time the conference has been held on African soil.
Accompanied by coastal region leaders including Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs CS Hassan Joho and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, the President inspected the vessel’s advanced research facilities.
The Dr. Fridtjof Nansen is part of the long-running EAF-Nansen Programme — a nearly 50-year collaboration between Norway, the FAO, and African partner countries focused on marine research, fisheries management, and capacity building.
President Ruto emphasized the importance of scientific data for harnessing marine resources responsibly. Kenya is actively developing its blue economy, including plans for a new fish port in Shimoni, for which it is seeking Norwegian partnership and operational expertise.
The tour underscores broader conference outcomes, including international pledges such as the EU’s €338 million for ocean conservation and a €60 million program for the Western Indian Ocean region. Kenya also joined a declaration on fisheries transparency.
The vessel recently completed an 18-day scientific survey along Kenya’s coast (May–June 2026), generating data on fisheries resources and marine ecosystems within Kenya’s Exclusive Economic Zone to support evidence-based policies.
Kenya-Norway cooperation in ocean science and positions the country as a leader in sustainable blue economy initiatives aimed at food security, job creation (particularly for youth), and environmental conservation.
