President William Ruto has announced that Kenyan seafarers are set to benefit from new employment opportunities after Norwegian shipping companies committed to hiring 1,000 Kenyans by 2030.
The pledge was made during President Ruto’s visit to Oslo, where he held discussions with officials from the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association and leading maritime companies.
According to the President, the initiative will be spearheaded by Wilhelmsen Ship Management alongside other members of the association. The first phase is expected to see 120 Kenyan seafarers recruited before the end of this year.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Kenya and Norway in the maritime and blue economy sectors, with emphasis on employment creation, skills development, technology transfer, investment, and capacity building.
The planned recruitment is expected to provide opportunities for trained Kenyan seafarers seeking employment in the global shipping industry, a sector that continues to face growing demand for skilled personnel.
Beyond job creation, the two sides also explored ways of enhancing trade and maritime connectivity between the two countries. Among the proposals discussed were the establishment of new shipping links connecting Kenyan ports with Norway.
The talks examined the potential of leveraging Port of Mombasa and Port of Lamu as strategic gateways for trade, while improving access to Norwegian markets and strengthening supply chains.
The commitment comes as Kenya continues to promote the blue economy as a key driver of economic growth and employment, particularly for young people trained in maritime studies and related fields.
If implemented as planned, the recruitment programme could significantly expand international employment opportunities for Kenyan seafarers while deepening economic ties between Kenya and Norway.
