Kenya elected Vice-Chair of the Nairobi Convention Bureau

Kenya has been elected Vice-Chair for Coordination in the Bureau of the Nairobi Convention during the Twelfth Conference of the Parties (COP12), held from 6–9 October 2026 in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
The election underscores Kenya’s continued leadership and commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in the conservation, protection and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean region.
The newly elected Bureau is chaired by Mauritius, with South Africa serving as Vice-Chair responsible for the Work Programme, Kenya for Coordination, Madagascar for Resource Mobilization, and the United Republic of Tanzania as Rapporteur.
In its new role, Kenya will support enhanced coordination among Contracting Parties and advance collective action on regional priorities, including marine biodiversity conservation, pollution prevention, climate resilience and sustainable blue economy development.
The election comes as the Nairobi Convention commemorates 40 years of regional cooperation, under the theme “Towards Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean Region for People and Nature: A Journey of Forty Years.”
The Government of Kenya reaffirms its commitment to working closely with the newly elected Bureau, fellow Contracting Parties and the Nairobi Convention Secretariat to translate regional commitments into tangible actions that safeguard marine and coastal ecosystems while supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities.
UN Environment Programme Nema Kenya