Principal Secretary State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Eng. Aden Adbi Millah, held talks with Vice Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Prof. Victoria Ngumi (JKUAT), at the State Department of Shipping and Maritime Affairs on Monday May 12, 2025.
During the meeting, The Principal Secretary noted that, JKUAT had emerged as a leading institution of higher learning playing a pivotal role in capacity building within the blue economy through training and research. The university, he noted offers sector relevant academic programmes such as BSc. Marine Engineering program while also championing targeted research through the institutions like the JKUAT based Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre for Africa (MTCC-Africa).
PS Aden added that MTCC-Africa plays a crucial role in the continent, by reducing GHG emissions from the shipping industry, through capacity building and the promotion of low carbon technologies and operations.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Ngumi informed the PS that JKUAT had made the bold step to be part of the Maritime Education and Training (MET) by launching the BSc. Marine Engineering program in 2010. The decision, she noted, was informed by the appreciation of the immense potential of Kenya’s blue economy in socio-economic development.
Prof. Ngumi added that through MTCC-Africa, JKUAT has undertaken research had honed unique capabilities that could help the State in effectively leveraging the blue economy for national development. Among the projects already handled by the Centre include: uptake of ship energy efficient technologies and operations; fuel consumption and emissions data collection and reporting; and quantification of emissions within the Port of Mombasa.
JKUAT’s commitment to the sector, Prof. Ngumi noted, was evident through championing regional capacity building, promoting the uptake of low-carbon technologies, raising awareness about harmful emissions, and diligently collecting and reporting fuel consumption data pertinent to the maritime shipping sector.
The Principal Secretary and the Vice Chancellor agreed to build synergies for cooperation towards climate change mitigation in the shipping and maritime industry the benefit of Kenya and the rest of Africa.
MTCC-Africa is part of the Global Maritime Network (GMN), an initiative funded by the European Union (EU), implemented by the International Maritime Organization and hosted by J̌KUAT. The centre is the only one of its kind in the continent and the region with the role of climate change mitigation from the effects of maritime transport.
The Vice Chancellor was accompanied to the Ministry by the Head of MTCC-Africa, Lydia Ngugi. Also present at the meeting was Joshua Segera, Director State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs.
