The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) is a State Corporation established under the Kenya Maritime Authority Act, 2006, with the mandate to regulate, coordinate, and oversee maritime affairs in Kenya. The Authority operates within the framework of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2009, and relevant international maritime conventions, ensuring safety, security, environmental protection, and efficient maritime transport systems.
As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance service delivery within the maritime sector, the Authority is seeking to recruit highly competent, proactive, and self-driven individuals to fill multiple vacant positions across various departments. These roles span technical, administrative, legal, audit, and operational functions, offering an opportunity to contribute to the growth and governance of Kenya’s maritime industry.
The following positions are available:
- Senior Maritime Transport Logistics Training Officer
This role focuses on capacity building within the maritime transport and logistics sector.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement maritime transport and logistics training programs
- Coordinate training schedules and learning materials for stakeholders
- Facilitate workshops, seminars, and professional development initiatives
- Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of training programs
- Liaise with maritime institutions and partners to align training with industry standards
- Support development of training policies and frameworks
- Maintain records and reports on training activities
- Senior Ports & Shipping Services Officer
This role supports efficient operations within ports and shipping services.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Oversee port and shipping service operations
- Monitor compliance with maritime regulations and standards
- Coordinate stakeholders involved in shipping services
- Analyze performance of port operations and recommend improvements
- Support policy implementation related to shipping services
- Prepare reports on port activities and shipping trends
- Ship Surveyors
This position involves inspection and certification of vessels.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct inspections and surveys of ships to ensure compliance
- Verify vessel safety, structural integrity, and equipment standards
- Issue survey reports and certification documentation
- Monitor adherence to international maritime conventions
- Provide technical advice on ship safety and compliance issues
- Investigate maritime incidents involving vessels
- Trainee Ship Surveyor
This is an entry-level role supporting ship surveying functions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assist in conducting ship inspections and surveys
- Support documentation and reporting processes
- Participate in field inspections under supervision
- Learn and apply maritime safety standards
- Maintain records of inspection activities
- Provide administrative support to survey teams
- Marine Environment Officer
This role focuses on marine environmental protection.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Monitor environmental compliance in maritime operations
- Conduct environmental impact assessments
- Develop and implement marine pollution control measures
- Investigate environmental incidents and recommend mitigation
- Promote awareness on marine environmental conservation
- Prepare reports on environmental performance
- Surveyor, Maritime Security
This position addresses maritime safety and security compliance.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct security assessments of ships and port facilities
- Ensure compliance with maritime security regulations
- Monitor implementation of security plans
- Investigate security breaches and incidents
- Provide recommendations for improving maritime security
- Prepare security audit reports
- Surveyor, Navigation
This role ensures safe navigation standards within maritime operations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assess navigation systems and equipment on vessels
- Monitor compliance with navigation safety standards
- Conduct inspections related to navigational aids
- Support hydrographic and charting activities
- Investigate navigation-related incidents
- Prepare reports on navigation compliance
- Search and Rescue Officer
This position supports emergency response operations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Coordinate maritime search and rescue operations
- Monitor distress signals and emergency communications
- Liaise with rescue agencies and stakeholders
- Maintain readiness of search and rescue systems
- Conduct drills and training for emergency preparedness
- Document and report rescue operations
- Merchant Shipping Fees Officer
This role handles revenue collection related to maritime services.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Administer collection of merchant shipping fees
- Maintain accurate financial records of transactions
- Ensure compliance with fee structures and policies
- Reconcile accounts and prepare financial reports
- Address stakeholder inquiries on fees and charges
- Support audits and financial reviews
- Licensing & Seaborne Trade Officer
This position regulates maritime licensing and trade activities.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Process licensing applications for maritime operations
- Monitor compliance with licensing conditions
- Facilitate seaborne trade documentation and approvals
- Maintain licensing records and databases
- Provide guidance to stakeholders on licensing requirements
- Prepare reports on licensing activities
- Maritime Labour Officer
This role addresses welfare and compliance of maritime workforce.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Monitor compliance with maritime labour standards
- Conduct inspections related to seafarer welfare
- Address labour-related complaints and disputes
- Promote adherence to international labour conventions
- Maintain records on maritime workforce issues
- Prepare reports on labour compliance
- Legal Officer (Maritime Governance)
This position provides legal support on maritime governance matters.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Offer legal advice on maritime laws and regulations
- Draft and review legal documents and contracts
- Support litigation and dispute resolution processes
- Interpret legal frameworks affecting maritime operations
- Ensure compliance with statutory requirements
- Prepare legal reports and opinions
- Office Administrator
This role supports administrative operations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage office operations and coordination
- Maintain records, files, and documentation
- Support scheduling and meetings
- Handle correspondence and communication
- Ensure efficient office workflow
- Provide support to departmental activities
- Auditor
This position focuses on internal audit functions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct financial and operational audits
- Assess internal control systems
- Identify risks and recommend improvements
- Prepare audit reports and findings
- Monitor implementation of audit recommendations
- Support compliance reviews
- Surveyor, Seafarers Training Standards (Engineering)
This role ensures training standards for seafarers.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assess training institutions and programs
- Monitor compliance with engineering training standards
- Evaluate competency of seafarers
- Support certification processes
- Conduct inspections and audits of training facilities
- Prepare reports on training standards
- Supply Chain Management Officer
This position manages procurement and supply chain processes.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Coordinate procurement activities
- Manage inventory and supply systems
- Ensure compliance with procurement regulations
- Maintain supplier records and contracts
- Monitor delivery and logistics processes
- Prepare procurement reports
- Accounts Assistant
This role supports financial operations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assist in financial record keeping
- Process payments and receipts
- Reconcile accounts and transactions
- Support preparation of financial statements
- Maintain accounting documentation
- Assist in audits and financial reviews
- Assistant Office Administrator
This position supports administrative functions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assist in office coordination and operations
- Maintain records and filing systems
- Support communication and correspondence
- Assist in scheduling and logistics
- Provide administrative support to staff
- Office Assistant
This role provides general office support.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Handle office errands and support tasks
- Maintain cleanliness and organization of office spaces
- Assist in document handling and delivery
- Support administrative staff as required
- Perform basic clerical duties
- Assistant Director, Safety of Navigation & Investigation
This is a leadership role in maritime safety oversight.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Oversee navigation safety programs
- Lead investigations into maritime incidents
- Develop safety policies and frameworks
- Coordinate with regulatory and enforcement agencies
- Supervise safety inspections and audits
- Prepare strategic reports on safety performance
- Principal Legal Officer (Maritime Governance)
This role provides senior-level legal leadership.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead legal advisory services on maritime governance
- Oversee legal compliance and risk management
- Manage litigation and dispute resolution
- Draft policies and legislative proposals
- Provide guidance on complex legal matters
- Supervise legal team operations
- Principal Surveyor, Maritime Investigation & Receiver of Wreck
This position oversees maritime investigations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead investigations into maritime accidents
- Manage wreck recovery processes
- Ensure compliance with investigation protocols
- Coordinate with stakeholders in incident response
- Prepare investigation reports and recommendations
- Maintain records of maritime incidents
- Principal Ship Surveyor
This role provides leadership in ship surveying functions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supervise ship inspection and certification processes
- Ensure compliance with maritime safety standards
- Review survey reports and approvals
- Provide technical guidance to survey teams
- Monitor performance of survey operations
- Develop policies related to ship surveying
- Principal Surveyor, Maritime Security
This position oversees maritime security compliance.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead maritime security assessments and audits
- Develop security policies and frameworks
- Monitor implementation of security measures
- Coordinate with national and international agencies
- Investigate security incidents
- Prepare security reports and recommendations
- Principal Surveyor, Navigation & Hydrography
This role focuses on navigation and hydrographic services.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Oversee hydrographic surveys and charting
- Monitor navigation systems and aids
- Ensure compliance with navigation standards
- Coordinate hydrographic data management
- Support maritime safety initiatives
- Prepare technical reports on navigation systems
- Principal Auditor (Systems & Forensic Audit)
This position leads audit functions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct systems and forensic audits
- Investigate financial irregularities
- Assess internal controls and risk frameworks
- Prepare detailed audit reports
- Recommend corrective actions
- Monitor implementation of audit findings
- Principal Resource Centre Officer
This role manages information and resource centers.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Oversee resource center operations
- Manage information systems and documentation
- Support research and knowledge management
- Coordinate access to information resources
- Maintain records and archives
- Prepare reports on resource utilization
- Principal Maritime Trade and Development Officer
This position supports maritime trade growth.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop strategies for maritime trade development
- Promote investment in maritime sector
- Analyze trade trends and opportunities
- Coordinate stakeholder engagement
- Support policy formulation on trade development
- Prepare reports on maritime trade performance
Application Process
Interested candidates are expected to submit their applications through the official recruitment platform as guided by the Authority. Applicants should ensure that all required documents and information are provided as per the instructions in the official job listings.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further stages of the recruitment process.
