Kenya Navy has been elected Chair of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), for the 2030-2032 period.
The election took place during the 9th Conclave of Chiefs of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS CoC), and the 5th Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC 2026) held in Goa, India.
Commander Kenya Navy, Major General Paul Otieno, headed the Kenyan delegation, during the Symposium, which brought together Chiefs of Navies and maritime security leaders from 33 countries.
According to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the election “reflects international confidence in Kenya’s leadership as a key East African maritime security contributor and trusted regional partner.” KDF further highlighted that the conclave deliberations emphasized collaboration on shared challenges such as piracy, trafficking, maritime terrorism, illegal fishing, and emerging threats like dark shipping.
During the event, discussions centered on strengthening maritime cooperation, operational interoperability, and coordinated responses to evolving threats, including piracy, trafficking, maritime terrorism, illegal fishing, dark shipping, and climate-related risks.
Maj Gen Otieno reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to a secure, stable, and prosperous Indian Ocean, which is vital to global trade, energy security, and sustainable development.
He paid a courtesy call to Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Indian Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, highlighting the growing Kenya-India defence partnership and expanded naval cooperation in training, operations, and safeguarding the Western Indian Ocean under a rules-based maritime order.
The navy commander also visited Goa Shipyard Limited and Zen Technologies in Delhi, where he underscored potential opportunities for joint shipbuilding, technology transfer, and co-development in a bid to enhance operational readiness, strengthen mission planning, and deliver sustainable capability growth.
The visit also marked Kenya’s inaugural participation at the Goa Maritime Conclave 2026, held on 21 February 2026 in Goa.
