What Kenya Maritime Authority does

Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) is the sole statutory regulator of maritime affairs in Kenya, established first via Legal Notice Number 79 of 2004 and formally constituted by the Kenya Maritime Authority Act, 2006, and operating under the Merchant Shipping Act, Cap. 389 (enacted 2009). KMA operates under the policy oversight of the Ministry of Mining Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs and is headquartered in Mombasa. Its mandate covers vessel registration and inspection, seafarer certification, maritime transport operator licensing, maritime education and training (MET) institution accreditation under STCW standards, marine environment protection including oil spill response, and 24/7 search and rescue coordination via the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC), which works jointly with the Kenya Navy and Kenya Ports Authority.

KMA delivers regulatory services through a set of integrated digital portals: a Seafarers Portal (public.kma.go.ke:8443) for seafarer applications and certificate management, a Corporate Portal for maritime transport operators, a Supplier Portal (suppliers.kma.go.ke:643) for procurement, and integration with the national e-Citizen platform. Underpinning these portals is a certificate verification system and supporting inspection workflows. KMA also implements international conventions adopted through the International Maritime Organization (IMO), including sulphur limit requirements and SAR frameworks, and partners with bodies such as NEMA, KFS, Bandari Maritime Academy, and World Maritime University.

As a government state entity, KMA does not operate a commercial revenue model; instead, it collects statutory fees, levies, and charges for maritime services under its establishing legislation. Its customer base is the regulated constituency: maritime transport operators, seafarers, MET institutions, and the port community. Distribution is domestic and direct, through its portals and physical office.

Name

Kenya Maritime Authority

Legal name

Kenya Maritime Authority

Website

https://kma.go.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kenya Maritime Authority is the sole statutory regulator of maritime affairs in Kenya, overseeing vessel registration and inspection, seafarer certification, maritime education accreditation, marine environment protection, and 24/7 search and rescue coordination through its headquarters in Mombasa and integrated digital portals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Regulatory Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Services-Services, Nec (8900)

akta.pro primary industry

Transportation Regulators (Aviation, Maritime, Rail, Road) (BPAIAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Surveying, Inspection & Claims (EDAOANAO)

Keywords

• Maritime regulatory services
• Vessel inspection and registration
• Seafarer certification
• Maritime transport licensing
• Maritime search and rescue

Headquarters

HQ city

Mombasa

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kenya Maritime Authority is the statutory regulator of maritime affairs in Kenya, providing vessel inspection and registration, seafarer certification and documentation, 24/7 search and rescue coordination through the RMRCC, marine environment protection and oil spill response, accreditation of maritime education and training institutions, and licensing of maritime transport operators. Services are delivered through dedicated digital portals (Seafarers Portal, Corporate Portal, Supplier Portal) and integration with Kenya's national e-Citizen platform.

Product overview

Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) is a regulatory body established under the Kenya Maritime Authority Act, 2006 to regulate, coordinate, and oversee maritime affairs in Kenya. KMA offers a unified platform of regulatory and operational services including vessel inspection applications, online portals for seafarers and suppliers, certificate verification, maritime education and training accreditation, search and rescue coordination (RMRCC), marine environment protection, oil spill response, maritime transport operators licensing, port community services, vessel registration, and seafarer medical examination and recruitment oversight. The services are accessed through various online portals and application systems on the KMA website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vessel Inspection Service Regulatory service for inspecting water-going vessels to ascertain their conditions, conducted by KMA's vessel inspection unit and accessed via the vessel inspection application on kma.go.ke.
• Seafarers Portal Online portal enabling seafarers to apply for certifications, manage documents, and access KMA seafarer services digitally.
• Corporate Portal Digital portal providing corporate maritime operators with dashboard access to KMA regulatory services, applications, and account management.
• Supplier Portal Portal enabling suppliers to register, submit bids, and engage with KMA's procurement and tendering processes.
• Certificate Verification Service Online service allowing employers, port authorities, and other stakeholders to verify the authenticity of maritime certificates issued by KMA.
• Maritime Education and Training (MET) Accreditation Accreditation service for maritime education and training institutions and their courses, ensuring compliance with international STCW standards and maintaining a published list of approved METIs.
• Search and Rescue Coordination (RMRCC) 24/7 maritime search and rescue operations coordinated by the RMRCC, including distress notification receipt, National Maritime Search and Rescue Plan implementation, and coordination with Kenya Navy and Kenya Ports Authority in coastal and inland waters.
• Marine Environment Protection Service Regulatory and operational services for protecting the marine environment and ensuring safe use of Kenyan waters, including minimization of ship-source and offshore installation pollution threats.
• Oil Spill Response Service Operational and coordination service for responding to oil spills in Kenyan maritime waters, delivered under the National Oil Spills Contingency Plan in partnership with NEMA.
• Maritime Transport Operators Licensing Registration and licensing service for maritime transport operators under the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Transport Operators) Regulations, 2024, including compliance oversight and ongoing license administration.
• Port Community Services Coordination and regulatory services for the port community, including port operator oversight and regulatory liaison with Kenya Ports Authority.
• Vessel Registration Service Registration service for water-going vessels operating in Kenyan waters, including documentation and certification of vessel particulars under the Merchant Shipping Act.
• Seafarer Medical Examination Services Regulatory service approving and overseeing medical practitioners authorized to conduct statutory medical examinations for seafarers.
• Seafarers Recruitment and Placement Licensing Licensing and oversight service for seafarer recruitment and placement agents, ensuring compliant crew placement practices under the Merchant Shipping Act framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• KMA coordinated the planting of 25,000 mangrove seedlings along Kilifi Creek shoreline as part of coastal ecosystem restoration efforts
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Maritime Organization (IMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMA operates under IMO conventions and standards for international shipping. The agency implements IMO regulations including the sulphur limit requirements and STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) conventions for seafarer training and certification.
• Kenya Ports AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMA coordinates with Kenya Ports Authority on port community operations, vessel traffic management, and maritime regulatory enforcement within port jurisdictions.
• Kenya NavycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMA coordinates maritime search and rescue operations with Kenya Navy as part of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Plan. Joint operations are conducted both at the coast and inland waters.
• Kenya Forest Service (KFS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMA collaborated with KFS and Mtakimau Community Forest Association to plant 25,000 mangrove seedlings along Kilifi Creek shoreline for coastal ecosystem restoration.
• National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMA partners with NEMA for marine environmental protection, oil spill response coordination, and implementation of environmental regulations affecting maritime operations.
• Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on marine research, fisheries management, and marine ecosystem conservation within Kenya's maritime jurisdiction.
• Bandari Maritime AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMA accredits Bandari Maritime Academy as a KMA-approved maritime education and training institution providing STCW-compliant training for seafarers.
• World Maritime UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMA maintains affiliation with World Maritime University for advanced maritime education and professional development of maritime regulators.
• Ministry of Mining Blue Economy and Maritime AffairscoreOthersKMA operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Mining Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, which provides policy direction and governmental oversight.
• Ministry of Foreign AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on international maritime matters, bilateral shipping agreements, and maritime boundary issues requiring diplomatic engagement.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• International Maritime Organization (IMO): The IMO is the UN specialized agency that sets international maritime safety, security, and environmental standards. KMA operates under IMO conventions and acts as the domestic implementation authority for IMO regulations, making IMO a natural institutional peer and partner.
• Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA): AMSA is Australia's national maritime regulator responsible for vessel safety, seafarer standards, marine environment protection, and search and rescue coordination. Directly comparable to KMA's RMRCC and vessel inspection functions, but operating at a much larger scale with broader resources.
• UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA): The UK MCA implements maritime safety, seafarer certification, and coastguard functions, closely paralleling KMA's regulatory and SAR mandate. A well-established national maritime regulator in a mature market, useful as a benchmark for KMA's eventual operational maturity.
• Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA): MPA is a global leader in maritime regulation and port operations, combining regulatory oversight with port management. Comparable to KMA on maritime regulatory functions (vessel registration, seafarer certification, safety) while operating at significantly larger scale and including port operations.

Direct peers

• South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA): SAMSA is South Africa's national maritime regulatory authority, with a mandate overlapping KMA's across vessel safety, seafarer certification, maritime training accreditation, and environmental protection. Both are national-level maritime regulators on the African continent with statutory authority and IMO-aligned frameworks.
• Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA): NIMASA is Nigeria's apex maritime regulatory body, responsible for vessel registration, seafarer certification, maritime safety, and environmental protection. Comparable to KMA as a national maritime regulator in an African developing-market context with similar scope of regulatory services.
• Ghana Maritime Authority: Ghana's national maritime regulator with similar responsibilities for vessel registration, seafarer certification, and maritime safety enforcement. Comparable to KMA as an African national maritime regulatory authority operating under IMO conventions and managing coastal and inland waterways.
• Mauritius Maritime Authority: Mauritius Maritime Authority regulates maritime safety, seafarer certification, and shipping in the Indian Ocean region. Directly comparable to KMA as a Western Indian Ocean maritime regulator with vessel registration, certification, and navigational safety functions.

Regional players

• Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority (DPFZA): DPFZA is the Djibouti port and maritime regulatory authority at the Bab-el-Mandeb chokepoint. Comparable to KMA as a strategic regional maritime regulator in the Western Indian Ocean corridor, with overlapping jurisdiction over vessel traffic and port-side maritime services.
• Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA): SUMATRA is Tanzania's transport and maritime regulator covering coastal and lake maritime operations. Comparable to KMA as a neighbouring East African maritime regulator with vessel, marine transport, and licensing responsibilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kmakenya
• Facebookfacebook.com/kmakenya
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kenya-maritime-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kenya Maritime Authority