Liz Marami, Kenya’s first female marine pilot shatters more glass ceilings

Kenya’s first female marine pilot Elizabeth Marami is now a certified UK Chief Officer Unlimited/ master 3000GT. This is after she passed Britain’s coast guard oral exams on Saturday.

Marami is now the first Kenyan woman to attain the certification which allows her to serve onboard a cruise ship.

“It’s one of the best days of my life as I passed my UK coast guard orals exam! I achieved a goal I set out to attain 10 years ago but life short-changed me due to employment rejection onboard ships and so I didn’t get the sea service I needed,” wrote Marami on her Instagram.

Marami had been rejected by various companies in her quest to gather enough sea time to have her graduate to a captain. She said most of her application rejections were based on her gender as Navigation is a predominantly male course.

Kenya Maritime Authority acting Director General John Omingo congratulated Marami saying her achievement is a win for women and an inspiration for women who want to venture into the maritime sector.

“We have made strides as a country, we now have a certificated Kenyan woman chief officer. This is a good achievement, she has opened the doors for other women to work in cruise ships, we now have others emulating her” said Omingo in an interview with Nation.

Marami dedicated her achievement to women who are interested in joining the marine industry, saying that they served as her inspiration too and describing the process as brutal.

“I just want to say, this is for all the Kenyan girls who were inspired to join the profession after hearing my story. You kept me going! This is your win! We may be late to the party as Kenyan female seafarers but the world best be ready for one heck of a show!” said Marami.