Concerns as unlicensed firm recruits seafarers

Former Seafarers Union of Kenya Secretary General Steve Owaki (left) and young sea cadets during a media briefing in Mombasa where they called on the government to speed up the issuance of seafarers identification documents. [File, Standard]

Veteran seafarers and maritime experts have sounded the alarm over the activities of an unregistered firm allegedly recruiting Kenyans to work aboard foreign ships without authorisation.

The company, whose officials have reportedly been hosted at a luxury beach resort, has conducted recruitment exercises for over a month without a licence from the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA).