President William Ruto said Norwegian shipping companies will hire 1,000 Kenyans by 2030.
In a statement released on Tuesday, June 9, Ruto said Wilhelmsen Ship Management and other firms have pledged to employ Kenyan seafarers. He added that the first group of Kenyan seafarers will begin recruitment by December 2026.
“We also welcome the commitment by Wilhelmsen Ship Management and other Norwegian shipping companies to employ 1,000 Kenyan seafarers by 2030, including 120 by the end of this year,” he said.
Ruto announced the agreement after meeting the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association in Oslo, Norway.
The Kenyan and Norwegian delegations also discussed ways to advance Kenya’s maritime and blue economy agenda, including opportunities for investment, knowledge exchange, skills development, technology transfer, and job creation.
Ruto also held talks with members of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association on prospects in the blue economy and fisheries sector. He raised plans for cooperation on green shipping, ocean sustainability, and decarbonization.
He added that Kenya and the Norwegian shipowners explored new shipping routes to boost trade and strengthen supply chain resilience.
“The new shipping routes will enhance connectivity between the ports of Mombasa and Lamu and Norwegian ports and expand Kenya’s shipbuilding capacity,” Ruto said.
Ruto said he was in Oslo to strengthen long-standing bilateral ties between Kenya and Norway, with a focus on trade, investment, climate action, and sustainable development.
