Milestones achieved by the Association since its launch in Kenya

  1. The first major activity held after the launch was fundraising Gala Dinner in July 2012.this enabled facilitation of our flagship program, the mentorship in High Schools and we have one student undertaking advanced maritime course sponsored by the Association. There are also mentorship training for WOMESA mentors so as to capacity build the mentors and equip them with tasks and skills for better mentorship.
  2. Since 2012, Kenya chapter has regular Annual General Meetings to ensure women get to showcase their achievements in year gone by in maritime related issues. Several members have had advanced studies on scholarships and fellow programs such as Port Management, maritime security, Masters in science in maritime studies, Maritime Labour convention 2006.
  3. There are quarterly sessions on current topical issues such as public speaking, blue economy and skills of mentorship.
  4. By 2018, we have networking/Partnerships with other maritime related organizations so as to achieve our goals. These stakeholders include government departments of Transport, Fisheries, maritime, Gender, Education, academic institutions and research; IMO and PMAESA, Port authority and maritime authority, ITF, shipping associations, crewing agencies, women fisher folk, Mission to seaman and county government, IAPH, among others.
  5. A full time program officer to run the day to day activities of the Association and is also our mentee.
  6. We collected gender-based statistics of the women ongoing training, seeking employment and employed in the maritime sector especially the seafarers enable decision making and the monitoring of their career progression. We are currently collecting data of women working in the fishing industry
  7. Kenya Ports authority is a corporate member and targeting other corporation
  8. Success hosting a Side Event on the role of women in the Blue Economy in the inaugural Sustainable Blue Economy Conference.
  9. Inclusion in the Mombasa Port Community Charter signatories.
  10. Participation in community service to leverage and sensitize the public on the importance of participation of women in the maritime sector (e.g. taking part in the beach clean-ups to commemorate various world maritime events such as Africa Day of the Seas and the Oceans, World Maritime Day etc.)
  11. Had a Partners Meeting and Validation of Implementation Plan on the global implications of marine pollution and Abandoned Lost and /or Discarded Fishing Gear including retrieval and removal held on 14th February , 2022 at Mawenzi Resort .This project is funded in part by Ocean Conservancy’s Small Grants Program and the Joanna Toole Glo Litter Partnerships Grant.

    Organizations represented were Kenya Coast Guard Service , world-Wide Fund Kenya (WWF -Kenya), Oceans Alive , COIRDIO East Africa, Fisheries Department Kilifi and Mombasa County , Kilifi County Government, State Department for Gender – Kilifi, Watamu Marine Association , Beach Management Unit , Fisherfolk Chairperson, WOMESA Region and WOMESA Kenya members.

WOMESA has been at the forefront in advocating for empowerment of women in the maritime sector through various channels such as lobbying for women to be employed in the industry among others.

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