Kenya will showcase Africa’s leadership in ocean action during the conference.
by Blue Africa News
Kenya’s President William Ruto has reaffirmed the country’s readiness to host the 11th edition of the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in June 2026, marking the first time the global event will be held in Africa.
Launched in 2014 by U.S. Department of State and former Secretary of State John Kerry, OOC is a major international platform that unites governments, businesses, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and academic institutions, with a view of driving ocean-related action and ambition.
Ruto met Kerry on the sidelines of the ongoing (23-30 September, 2025) 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he affirmed Kenya’s readiness to host the event at the Kenyan coast, themed “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future.”
“This historic milestone offers our continent the chance to shape the global ocean agenda for the next decade,” Ruto said in a statement. “Kenya is keen on protecting its oceans and harnessing blue resources responsibly for sustainable growth.”
During the conference, he said, Kenya will showcase Africa’s leadership in ocean action, “rallying nations and partners to protect marine ecosystems, expand the blue economy, and secure prosperity for generations to come.”
OOC focuses on six key thematic areas, namely: marine protected areas, sustainable blue economy, climate change, maritime security, sustainable fisheries, and marine pollution.
In April 2025, Tom Pickerell, Head of the Ocean Panel Secretariat and Global Director of World Resources Institute’s Ocean Program said Kenya was handed the baton to host the conference because of its ambitious policies to tackle plastic pollution and foster a sustainable ocean economy.
“As the first Our Ocean Conference to be held in Africa, Kenya will have the opportunity to draw global attention to the region’s priorities and challenges, ranging from ocean-climate resilience and sustainable fishing to maritime security, marine conservation, pollution and the sustainable ocean economy,” he said.
OCC has generated over 2,600 commitments valued at more than U$160 billion, making it one of the most impactful global gatherings for ocean sustainability, since its 2014 inception.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dion George, South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment on Monday called on world leaders to embrace cooperation as a safe pair of hands in building a sustainable ocean economy.
Addressing world leaders during a High-Level Ocean of the Future meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the minister warned that the future of trade, energy security and livelihoods depends on how nations manage the seas today.
“Ecological gains must be pursued alongside reducing inequality and exclusion. Fisheries, aquaculture and tourism must evolve equitably, supporting small-scale fishers and coastal communities, creating jobs in eco-tourism and aquaculture, and protecting marine biodiversity,” he stated.
With South Africa holding the G20 presidency in 2025, he said President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration is ready to work with G20 partners to drive an ocean economy that is environmentally sustainable, socially just, inclusive, and a true driver of resilience.
G20 is an informal forum for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of industrialised and developing economies to discuss international economic and financial stability, with the presidency rotating annually among member states.
It comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States) and two regional bodies, namely the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU).
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News