The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) has warned that it will take strong action against foreign and local maritime transport and shipping lines operating within the country. According to an urgent official notice issued by the authority on June 22, 2026, any companies that fail to register and obtain a license in compliance with the new maritime transport directive will face severe administrative and legal sanctions. The Director General of the authority, CPA Justus Omae Nyarandi, stated that this new decision was made to fully implement the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Transport Operators) Regulations, which were approved in 2024, and to establish strict oversight in the sector.
As emphasized in the statement issued by the Kenya Maritime Authority regarding the seven-day compliance warning, all foreign companies operating within Kenyan port regions and the maritime transport sector must obtain the required Registration Certificate. Conversely, local maritime transport enterprises must possess a valid Operating Licence issued by the authority. The authority stated in its official announcement that the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Transport Operators) Regulations 2024 require foreign shipping companies operating in Kenya to hold a registration certificate, while local companies are required to have an operating license issued by the authority.
Consequently, any entity found operating within Kenyan ports or engaged in any maritime transport activity without meeting this mandatory requirement shall be subjected to the severe sanctions and enforcement measures prescribed under the regulations and other applicable laws. Following this directive, the authority has given a seven-day deadline from the date of the notice for all relevant maritime transport operators. It was noted that companies that do not regularize their legal registration and licenses within this short timeframe could be suspended from operating in Kenyan ports.
This new directive is expected to have a major impact on Kenya’s maritime trade sector, particularly on numerous international cargo shipping lines operating at the Port of Mombasa, which serves as the country’s primary gateway for imports and exports.
Since Kenya is the commercial gateway to East Africa, the government believes that ensuring maritime transport is safe, transparent, and legally regulated is a matter of national security and economic interest. The authority announced that it will begin conducting inspections and strict monitoring after the specified seven-day deadline. Exceeding the stated time limit could result in heavy financial penalties, the suspension of vessel movements, and severe legal actions leading up to the cancellation of business licenses.
The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) is the state corporation responsible for regulating, coordinating, and overseeing Kenya’s maritime sector. The institution was established under the Kenya Maritime Authority Act, and its primary functions include ensuring safe and efficient shipping operations, enforcing maritime laws and international conventions, promoting the development of the country’s maritime industry, handling ship registration, licensing maritime service providers, providing seafarer training and certification, and protecting the marine environment from pollution. The authority works jointly with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS), and the Kenya Navy to enforce security and compliance within Kenya’s territorial waters and ports.
This strict directive issued on the maritime transport sector comes at a time when Kenya is introducing new reforms and directives across various sectors. In connection with this, it is recalled that the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) recently issued a new directive regarding bank lending rates. Additionally, through the Ministry of Education, the country is implementing new operational guidelines across all boarding schools.
