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Kenya was, on 26th November 2009, re-elected as member of Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It is one of the 40 countries, in a total membership of 169, that were elected by the IMO Assembly during its 26th held at IMO Headquarters, London, from 23 November to 4 December 2009. The countries elected will serve for the next biennium 2009 – 2011, in three categories as follows:-
| Category A |
10 States with largest interest in providing international shipping services:
China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States. |
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| Category B |
10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade:
Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden. |
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| Category C |
20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world:
Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey. |
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The International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
The Assembly is IMO’s governing body. All 169 Member States and three Associate Members are entitled to attend, as are the intergovernmental organizations with which agreements of co-operation have been concluded, and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO. The Assembly normally meets once every two years in regular session. It is responsible for approving the work programme, voting the budget and determining the financial arrangements of the Organization. It also elects the Council.
The campaign to have Kenya re-elected has been conducted through intensive lobbying by Kenya High Commission London in conjunction with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport in Kenya, and our Missions abroad.
Kenya’s profile in Maritime Affairs has risen in the recent past years due to its contribution in the fight against piracy.
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