Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has announced that Kenya is prepared to host the Commonwealth Ocean Ministerial Meeting (CMM) in 2026, reaffirming the country’s commitment to sustainable ocean governance and environmental conservation.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mudavadi said the gathering will build on the momentum from the inaugural Commonwealth Oceans Ministers Meeting (COMM) held in Cyprus in April 2024.
“Our leaders adopted the 2024 Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration under the theme ‘One Resilient Common Future,’ affirming strong action to address sea-level rise,” he noted.
At the Cyprus meeting, Kenya expressed its interest in hosting the next ministerial meeting, tentatively scheduled for January 2026 in Mombasa. While official confirmation is still pending, Mudavadi highlighted that this reflects Kenya’s long-standing dedication to global climate action.
During discussions, leaders reiterated their commitment to the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C and emphasized the importance of protecting oceans, forests, and biodiversity.
Mudavadi pointed out Kenya’s efforts to restore biodiversity, including a government plan to plant 1.5 billion trees by 2030.
He also stressed the urgent need for reforms in the global financial architecture to help countries better manage climate shocks, rising debt burdens, and limited revenues.
“Commonwealth Member States need a fairer and more responsive international financial system that addresses high financing interest rates while enabling climate resilience,” he stated.
Mudavadi urged Commonwealth nations to harness their collective strength to implement the resolutions from the 2024 Apia CHOGM, which emphasized accelerating efforts to protect and sustainably utilize ocean resources amid challenges such as climate change, pollution, and exploitation.
Since becoming a member of the Commonwealth in 1963, Kenya has continued to benefit from the organization’s support in areas such as electoral and constitutional reforms, institutional development, and national reconciliation efforts.
