Crafting Kenya’s sustainable ocean future

The Government of Kenya is developing a comprehensive Sustainable Ocean Plan (SOP) to guide the management of the nation's entire maritime space. Once implemented, the SOP will be a key planning instrument to ensure that Kenya’s rich marine resources are used sustainably and equitably for the benefit of all Kenyans. It will be the cornerstone of the Kenyan integrated ocean governance system, balancing conservation needs with economic development opportunities, and ensuring long-term ecosystem health and community prosperity.

The State Department of Blue Economy and Fisheries in the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, with support from the World Bank is responsible for Kenya’s SOP. NIRAS Africa Ltd was contracted to provide technical assistance and jointly with stakeholders produce a draft SOP by the end of February 2026.

Between November 2025 and January 2026, NIRAS will be carrying out a number of consultations with stakeholders across Kenya to gather their views on needs and priorities concerning the status and use of the ocean. Through the feedback form below, NIRAS is also inviting written contributions from stakeholders that could complement other participatory processes. We are therefore grateful if you would be willing to share your feedback with us. For this we prepared a series of guiding questions addressing some of the key issues for the SOP.

We look forward to the next steps: detailed county consultations, refinement of the roadmap, and eventual launch of the SOP — ensuring that Kenya’s oceans remain a source of prosperity, resilience and opportunity for current and future generations.

Do you have any grievance or remark about the SOP development process? If so, please use the grievance reporting form available below.