The top maritime job that Nancy Karigithu almost turned down ended up enriching her life beyond her wildest dreams. She was responsible for updating the sector’s framework, structures and legislation, helping Kenya finally join the ranks of countries which fully comply with international maritime regulations.
While her name may not immediately ring a bell, Nancy Karigithu’s work in the maritime industry has made her a legend in her lifetime. She is credited with developing and implementing the sector’s framework and structures, and opening up opportunities for training and career development for young Kenyans.
Karigithu, who sits on the board of governors of the World Maritime University based in Malmo, Sweden, put Kenya on the world map when she captained the country into the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Whitelist for the very first time in May 2010. IMO is the specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for the security of shipping and pollution prevention.
That her tenure in the industry has been one of many firsts is evident from such accomplishments as being the first East African to chair a substantive committee of the IMO.
Words of Wisdom
- “A lot of things in life depend on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. Choosing to be happy about your circumstances, whichever they may be, can bring peace and contentment.”
- “Adopting a positive attitude no matter the situation helps one forge ahead. You may not choose the people you work with, yet you are expected to deliver no matter what.”
- “Tomorrow always brings with it a new perspective, new circumstances and a better frame of mind to solve a problem. There is no problem that the committee of sleep cannot solve.”
- “One should never fear being different; instead one should dread being just like everybody else.”
- “Do not sweat the small stuff. We are the ones who give issues more importance than they deserve. I have trained myself not to have permanent enemies. Because of this, I deliberately chose to forget slights easily, and this removes ill will in my heart and mind.”
For nearly a decade, Karigithu worked as the Director General of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA). As the first substantive Director General, she was charged with setting up the authority as a going concern and updating the legal framework for maritime activities in Kenya — including all rules and regulations. She was engaged in the day-to-day management of the Authority, as well as setting up programmes, long-term strategy, business plans, annual operating budgets and generally advising government on maritime issues.
She accomplished numerous milestones during her time at the Authority, including the development and adoption of a national Seafarers Training Curriculum that integrates maritime training with the national education system.
“This opened a new career path for young Kenyans, and a degree in marine engineering was launched at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology and Mombasa Technical Training Institute,” says Karigithu. “Our national maritime education attained international recognition.” This means that locally trained Kenyans (like JKUAT marine engineer graduates) can be employed on ships anywhere in the world, opening a new stream for foreign exchange remittances into the economy.
Karigithu helped set up the structures and operations of the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, which has raised the profile of search and rescue in the region, especially in the fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean.
The Merchant Shipping Act, 2009, was enacted under Karigithu’s watch. “This gave Kenya a modern platform upon which to develop the maritime sector and improve safety of water transport in both coastal and inland waters.”
She also helped initiate regulatory oversight over maritime service providers in terms of quality, efficiency and costs of service relating to imports and exports through the port of Mombasa. This has raised national focus on the issues around maritime trade and practices adversely affecting the seamless flow of trade through the port.
Karigithu’s proudest accomplishments include inspiring a team of young people to be different and do their best. When she joined the industry, the only people who were available for employment in the technical areas were at the end of their professional career. Yet, as a regulator and oversight body, KMA needs to have the best trained and qualified personnel.
Something had to be done and fast. She consequently embarked on an ambitious training programme, recruiting young people and sending them off to study abroad, since there was no training available locally.
Convincing the Board of Directors to support this idea was difficult. She says, “Today, KMA has a complement of young men and women who are poised to take over and continue with the work that the pioneers started with such sacrifice. That young team is my pride and joy. The industry will soon see a crop of young women as marine engineers and pilots because we dared dream and helped them to dream too.”
Karigithu also served as the Chairperson of the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee, having been elected to the post in June 2009. The development and adoption of a national curriculum in Maritime Transport Logistics was also one of Karigithu’s initiatives.
During her tenure, Karigithu drew on a wealth of previous work experience. Starting as a legal assistant immediately after she graduated from law school, she served as state counsel in the Office of the Attorney General, and then as legal officer and assistant corporation secretary at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). “It was during that time that I was inducted into the maritime sector and found my calling,” she says.
She left KPA to set up a private consultancy firm — an integrated legal practice encompassing commercial and maritime litigation, and maritime consultancy services which helped her gain a unique insight into the application of maritime law generally and the drafting of maritime legislation.
Karigithu is a regular speaker at international conferences and seminars on topics dealing with maritime transport, safety and security, strengthening maritime administrations, disseminating competency and knowledge of the international regulatory regime for maritime transport. She is also interested in empowering women to take more roles with responsibility in the maritime sector.
“In this regard I was involved in the setting up and launch of the Association for Women in the Maritime Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa (WOMESA),” she says. “I was elected the founding chairperson and served two terms.”
WOMESA is the first regional body to champion and encourage the participation of women at senior management level in the maritime sector. It brings together women professionals in the maritime sectors of 26 countries in East and Southern Africa.
In recognition of her service to the national maritime industry, Karigithu was awarded the Presidential Award of the Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS) in December 2007.
While serving at the KMA, Karigithu also played a key role in developing maritime security and laws in Kenya and Africa. She consulted extensively in Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Seychelles and Gambia, between January 1999 and May 2004.
Her mantra has remained “one day at a time,” and it has served her well. The other challenge is serving in an industry whose importance and scope is not understood by many people, including policy makers.
Policy decisions and actions taken by one arm of government or the private sector can cause ripples and have a negative impact in the sector which may not have been anticipated.
Her admiration for two women drew Karigithu to study law. “By the time I sat for my ‘A’ levels, I had decided on a career in law since I admired my fellow village mate, Hon Martha Karua, and Effie Majisu (now Effie Owuor) whose performance on the Bench I keenly followed,” she reveals.
A family friend has also been Karigithu’s mentor over the years. When she was at crossroads after being offered the KMA job, she had to decide very quickly whether to leave a thriving practice, knowing full well that she could not afford to have her feet in both places at the same time.
It was an agonising decision — to leave a lucrative practice she had literally built from scratch or to return to public service which would pay her less.
She almost turned down the offer, but the words of her mentor came to mind: “There are some things that money cannot buy. That’s the best advice I have ever received and I remain grateful that I acted upon it.”
In her free time, Karigithu enjoys reading a good book or magazine. “Readers Digest and O magazine are my favourite.” She also enjoys swimming, walking, and light aerobics. Adds Karigithu: “I am really a home person and love spending time in the garden.”
“I always have my gym bag in the car for the opportunity to train over lunch or first thing in the morning before work,” she says. She states that she tries as much as possible to build the capacity of people around her, both at home and at work. “I invest in training my home manager as it frees me from worry that things are not being done properly,” she says.
She makes an effort to spend time with her husband, and says that has been made easy with advanced technology today.
In late 2015, Karigithu was appointed the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs in the Ministry of Transport.