President William Ruto has extended an invitation to world leaders to attend the 11th Our Ocean Conference, set to take place in Kenya in March 2026. Speaking at the ongoing Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), Ruto said the summit will highlight Africa’s opportunities in the blue economy and sustainable use of marine resources.
The President noted that Africa holds vast potential to contribute to global food security and sustainable agriculture through its ocean economy. He emphasized the importance of reducing post-harvest losses and promoting value addition in marine resources.
“As things stand today, most of what comes out of our oceans and rivers either does not find its way into the market because of post-harvest losses,” Ruto said. “We will be looking at interventions such as cold chain facilities, fish landing sites, and sufficient value addition capabilities, using global expertise and technology.”
He added that the conference would provide a platform for research, innovation, and knowledge exchange, allowing participants to draw from global experiences in ocean sustainability.
Ruto also called on Japan to support youth involvement in the blue economy, pointing out that the sector remains dominated by older populations. “We want to make sure that we bring young people, their energy, their expertise, their knowledge, and their innovation into the agricultural space,” he said.
Launched in 2014 by the US Department of State under former Secretary of State John Kerry, the Our Ocean Conference has become a key global forum for advancing ocean-related action. It focuses on six areas: marine protected areas, sustainable blue economy, climate change, maritime security, sustainable fisheries, and marine pollution. Since its inception, the conference has generated more than 2,600 commitments valued at over $160 billion.
Tom Pickerell, Head of the Ocean Panel Secretariat and Global Director of World Resources Institute’s Ocean Program, welcomed Kenya’s selection as host. “Kenya has long been an advocate and leader on ocean issues as host of UNEP and a pioneer in tackling plastic pollution and fostering a sustainable ocean economy,” he said.
Ruto affirmed Kenya’s readiness: “It will be an exciting moment for us as a continent to host this Ocean Conference in Kenya, and we invite Japan and the global community to partner with us.”
