The Articulation of Maritime Piracy in Kenya’s Foreign Policy

This research paper examines the integration of maritime piracy concerns into Kenya's foreign policy, noting a historical lack of a coherent domestic strategy despite the economic and security threats posed by piracy in the Indian Ocean and the proximity of Somalia.

• Piracy represents a significant global economic burden, with a study by Oceans Beyond Piracy estimating that direct and indirect costs reached US$7 billion in 2011.
• Kenya's foreign policy aims to protect national security and economic development, specifically focusing on maintaining access to the sea and international trade routes in the Indian Ocean, though piracy engagement has not been well integrated into its policy agenda.
• The absence of a comprehensive domestic strategy covering judicial, defense, onshore, and offshore dimensions has led to poor positioning of piracy issues in foreign policy and a lack of coordination among government officials.
• International agreements for prosecuting pirates in Kenya have failed due to a lack of expertise and resources, as well as poor information regarding evidentiary and procedural requirements under Kenyan law.
• Kenya has shown an increasing commitment to addressing piracy, evidenced by hosting an international conference in February 2012 with the UN to formulate a strategy against lawlessness in Somalia, and through military incursions into Somalia to secure national security.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2012). The Articulation of Maritime Piracy in Kenya’s Foreign Policy. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-articulation-of-maritime-piracy-in-kenyas-foreign-policy/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The Articulation of Maritime Piracy in Kenya’s Foreign Policy. 2012. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-articulation-of-maritime-piracy-in-kenyas-foreign-policy/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The Articulation of Maritime Piracy in Kenya’s Foreign Policy |date=16 February 2012 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/the-articulation-of-maritime-piracy-in-kenyas-foreign-policy/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2012articulation, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The Articulation of Maritime Piracy in Kenya’s Foreign Policy}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2012}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/the-articulation-of-maritime-piracy-in-kenyas-foreign-policy/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }