The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Kilifi County joined a multi-agency marine conservation sensitization drive at the Watamu Marine Protected Area, in a renewed effort to curb rising maritime crimes along Kenya’s coastline.
The awareness exercise, spearheaded by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Bahari Hai, focused on combating illegal activities such as turtle poaching, destructive fishing practices, and the degradation of mangrove ecosystems.
The ODPP team was led by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Esther Macharia, who emphasized the importance of building stronger partnerships between conservation actors and the justice sector.
She noted that prosecutorial agencies have a central role to play in safeguarding Kenya’s marine heritage by ensuring that “offenders involved in wildlife and environmental crimes are effectively prosecuted to deter future violations.”
The sensitization forum brought together a wide network of stakeholders, including judicial officers from the Malindi Law Courts, led by Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Usui, officers from the National Police Service, and officials from the Probation and Aftercare Service.
"The forum comes amid growing concerns over maritime crimes along Kenya’s coastline, which threaten marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities," said the ODPP.
The collaborative approach underscores the recognition that marine crime is a complex challenge that demands coordinated enforcement, public awareness, and a strengthened legal response.
