16/06/2026
Kenya Participates in the 28th Meeting of the IORA Committee of Senior Officials.
New Delhi, 16 June.
Ambassador Peter Munyiri, High Commissioner to India, represented the Republic of Kenya at the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), held in New Delhi, India, from 15–16 June 2026. He was accompanied by Ms. Winnie Mwanjala, Minister at the High Commission.The meeting was convened under the theme: “Innovation, Openness, Resilience and Adaptability.”
In his intervention, Ambassador Munyiri emphasized that the Indian Ocean is far more than a geographical space; it is a dynamic and life-sustaining ecosystem that connects the peoples, economies, and histories of the region. He called for a collective and inclusive response by Member States to address the growing challenges posed by climate change, environmental degradation, overfishing, and other unsustainable practices affecting the Indian Ocean region.
The Ambassador highlighted Kenya's significant progress in advancing ocean sustainability over the past two years through the implementation of key initiatives, including the launch of the National Blue Economy Strategy (2025–2030), the development of Kenya's first Marine Spatial Plan, the expansion of community-based blue tourism initiatives, restoration of mangrove ecosystems, promotion of sustainable marine and cruise tourism, and strengthened partnerships for coastal and marine conservation.
He noted that these interventions have enhanced marine ecosystem protection, strengthened climate resilience, improved coastal livelihoods, and positioned Kenya as a regional leader in sustainable blue tourism development within the Western Indian Ocean region.
Ambassador Munyiri further underscored Kenya's longstanding commitment to ocean sustainability and global ocean governance, citing the country's hosting of the inaugural Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi in 2018 and its co-hosting of the Second United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon in 2022.
He also informed delegates that Kenya will host the 11th Our Ocean Conference from 16–18 June 2026 in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties. This will be the first time the conference is held on the African continent, underscoring Kenya's commitment to advancing sustainable ocean economies for present and future generations.
The Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) is the second-highest decision-making body of IORA and serves as the organisation's principal coordinating mechanism. Comprising senior government representatives from Member States, the CSO reviews key agenda items, formulates recommendations, and submits policy matters to the Council of Ministers (COM) for consideration and approval.
The meeting brought together senior government officials from IORA Member States to review progress, discuss regional priorities, and advance cooperation across the Indian Ocean region. The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
