Sing’oei hails Kenya’s election to ISA council for 2027–2030 term

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei said the election reflects the confidence of the international community in Kenya's longstanding commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He said that commitment covers rules-based ocean governance, the sustainable management of the common heritage of humankind, the advancement of maritime scientific research, and the promotion of equitable and inclusive stewardship of the world's oceans.

The ISA is the autonomous intergovernmental organisation established under UNCLOS to organise, regulate and control all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area lying beyond national jurisdiction, a zone defined in the convention as the common heritage of humankind.

According to Sing'oei, the seat strengthens Kenya's voice in shaping the global regulatory framework for deep-seabed activities, advancing equitable benefit-sharing, promoting marine scientific research, and ensuring robust environmental safeguards.

He added that it reinforces Kenya's standing in sustainable ocean governance and the blue economy, positioning the country to more effectively champion African and developing-country interests within the multilateral forum.

Sing'oei also reaffirmed that Kenya remains committed to implementing the outcomes of the Nairobi Sustainable Blue Economy Conference and the Eleventh Our Ocean Conference held in Mombasa, the first edition of that conference to be hosted on the African continent.

He said the work would be pursued in partnership with fellow ISA members and in line with the mandate of UNCLOS.