Kenya on Tuesday lost the contest for the general secretary post at the International Maritime Organization, the UN agency that leads international efforts to promote safer shipping on cleaner oceans.
Kenya had nominated its Ambassador and Special Envoy for Maritime and Blue Economy, Nancy Karigithu.
Kenya's High Commissioner to the UK and Permanent Representative to the IMO Manoah Esipisu broke the news saying the seat was won by Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco of Panama.
"With Cabinet Secretary Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs-Kenya Salim Mvyrya and Kenyan candidate for the post of IMO Secretary-General Amb Nancy Karigithu at the start of the voting process in a contest won by Mr Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco of Panama, for an initial 4-year term as next SG starting 1 January 2024. We live to fight another day," Esipisu said in a statement on Twitter.
Karigithu is a globally recognised maritime expert with 38 years of experience.
On May 6, President William Ruto, along with the African Union, endorsed her as the only African candidate for the post of secretary general of the IMO.
Kenya secured the endorsement of the AU for her candidature during the High-Level Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, in mid-July, 2022.
"In nominating her, we appreciate that no African and no woman has ever held the position of secretary general of IMO in the years of the organisation's existence," Ruto said.
"Her election, therefore, will be an affirmative action and will (give credence) to the current global momentum of inclusivity and diversity in international decision-making processes."
Among Karigithu's accolades is her role in spearheading Kenya's efforts and contribution to the suppression and prevention of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Western Indian Ocean Region.
She also played a key role in ensuring IMO issued a formal notification to member states on the removal of the Indian Ocean from the list of high-risk areas.
The Ambassador also championed a global initiative for the protection of wildlife that resulted in adopting the Guidelines for the Prevention and Suppression of the Smuggling of Wildlife on Ships engaged in International Maritime Traffic, which the IMO endorsed in May 2022.
