Kenya Maritime Authority announces 78 job vacancies across multiple cadres

In a public notice, the Authority said it is seeking highly competent, proactive and self-driven individuals to fill positions spanning maritime transport logistics, shipping services, marine environment management, security, legal services, and administration.

Among the advertised roles are five senior maritime transport logistics training officers, five senior ports and shipping services officers, six ship surveyors, six marine environment officers, six search and rescue officers, six merchant shipping fees officers, and six maritime labour officers.

The agency is also recruiting for six legal officers (Maritime Governance), six auditors, six supply chain officers, 8 accounts officers, ten office administration positions, eight account assistants and eight assistant office administrators. 

Other job vacancies include three assistant directors; safety of navigation and Investigation; four principal legal officers (maritime governance); four principal surveyors, maritime investigation and receivers of wreck; four principal ship surveyors; four principal surveyors, maritime security; and four principal surveyors, navigation and hydrography.

Others are four principal auditors (systems and forensic audit), four principal resource centre officers and four principal maritime trade and development officers.

The vacancies span job grades 3 to 10, with multiple openings in technical areas such as ship surveying and maritime safety, reflecting KMA’s mandate to regulate, coordinate, and oversee maritime affairs under national and international frameworks.

KMA emphasised that applications must be submitted online through its recruitment portal, warning that hard copy or email submissions will not be accepted.

Applicants are required to provide detailed academic and professional credentials, along with relevant supporting documents.

The Authority noted that it is an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from women, youth, persons with disabilities and individuals from marginalised communities.

The deadline for applications is set for 5 pm on May 11, with only shortlisted candidates expected to be contacted.

The recruitment comes as KMA continues to play a central role in advancing maritime safety, security and environmental protection, as well as promoting Kenya’s position as a regional maritime hub.

KMA was set up in June 2004 as a semi-autonomous agency in charge of regulatory oversight over the Kenyan maritime industry. Maritime safety and security is one of the Authority’s core functions.  

As the pacesetter of the Kenyan maritime industry, KMA says it strives to strengthen national maritime administration through the enhancement of regulatory and institutional capacities for safety and security, fostering effective implementation of international maritime conventions and other mandatory instruments on safety and security.

It also promotes maritime training, coordinates search and rescue, prevents marine pollution and promotes preservation of the marine environment, as well as promoting trade facilitation and maritime investments.

Foreign Ships calling at the port of Mombasa, Kenya, are inspected by KMA ship surveyors in accordance with (IOMOU) Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control to which Kenya is a member.

This is to ensure that ships comply with safety of life and safe manning regulations, protection of the marine environment regulations and load line regulations, among others. 

As part of their core mandate, Kenya Maritime Authority is responsible for the operation of the Regional Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RMRCC), now also known as the Mombasa Information Sharing Centre(ICS).

The Centre provides a communication center where seafarers can call in for help in cases of distress while at sea.