Kenya’s coastal waters are the focus of a KMA safety advisory covering September through December. (Photo: capitalfm.africa)
The maritime authority urges sea users to take precautions as strong winds, high waves and heavy rainfall threaten coastal activities from September to December.
The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) has warned coastal residents and sea users to prepare for potentially dangerous conditions between September and December, with rough seas, powerful winds, high waves and heavy rainfall expected to threaten maritime safety.
According to the authority’s public notice, reported by Capital FM, the conditions could also limit visibility, adding to the risks facing vessels and people engaged in activities at sea or along the shoreline.
The advisory affects communities that depend on fishing, water transport and other maritime work. Boat operators, fisherfolk, passengers and crew are among those urged to take particular care as conditions change.
Sea Users Urged to Delay Non-Essential Trips
In the notice issued on Wednesday through Director General Omae Nyarandi, KMA advised the public against going out to sea during bad weather or when waters become rough.
The authority asked fisherfolk and other maritime users to take heightened precautions and defer activities that are not essential whenever conditions worsen. For vessels already at sea, it recommended keeping track of weather information and moving to safe shelter when necessary.
The guidance places weather monitoring at the centre of decisions about maritime travel and work during the warning period. Sea users were urged to keep checking official updates rather than treating the advisory as a one-off notice.
Life Jackets and Vessel Safety
KMA directed passengers and crew to wear life jackets whenever they are aboard vessels. It also called on boat owners and operators to ensure their vessels are properly secured, whether travelling, moored or anchored.
The precautions apply both to boats making journeys and those that are not underway. Strong winds and high waves are among the hazards identified in the notice, alongside rainfall and reduced visibility.
For operators and passengers, the authority’s advice combines personal safety measures with decisions about whether conditions are suitable for a trip. Its call to postpone non-essential sea activities applies when the weather deteriorates.
Official Forecasts and Emergency Reporting
People living along the coast were also asked to stay alert for strong winds, heavy rain and high waves, and to comply with directions from the relevant authorities.
KMA urged the public to follow weather and maritime safety information issued by both the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) and the maritime authority throughout the period covered by the warning.
KMD issues daily marine forecasts for Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi and Lamu. These updates are intended to support safety decisions by mariners, fishing communities and coastal residents based on prevailing sea conditions.
The authority said maritime accidents and other emergencies should be reported to the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC).
