H.E. President William Ruto has urged global leaders and delegates to take bold steps and turn promises into tangible action as he presided over the closing ceremony of the 11th Oceans Conference. President Ruto said countries must find bolder ways to mobilise finance, harness technology and innovation, strengthen capacity, and accelerate the implementation of shared commitments.
The ceremony marked the end of a high-level global forum where countries renewed their commitments to ocean conservation. The summit culminated in the adoption of the Mombasa Declaration of June 2026, which recorded 300 new commitments and pledges for ocean protection initiatives.
These commitments underscore growing global momentum to safeguard marine ecosystems amid rising climate and security concerns. Kenya emerged as a key player at the conference, making 50 commitments worth Sh1.1 billion dollars to advance the blue economy, strengthen fisheries management, and enhance marine protection.
President Ruto further highlighted several measures Kenya has taken to promote sustainable ocean governance. He cited initiatives such as the creation of a dedicated State Department for the Blue Economy and Fisheries, the construction of the Sh2.6 billion Shimoni Fish Port by Kenya Ports Authority, and the acquisition of patrol boats to strengthen maritime security.
With the weight of a continent’s blue economy aspirations on its shoulders, the event, themed “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future,” shifts the international dialogue from abstract environmentalism to the tangible intersections of culture, commerce, and survival.
Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki opened the conference on behalf of His Excellency the President Dr William Ruto on the first day. He was accompanied by cabinet secretaries and senior government officials, described the ocean as more than an ecological asset.
He described it as a cornerstone of national identity and a vital anchor for regional stability, warning that its degradation poses risks extending far beyond the shoreline.