Kenya Considers Military Escorts For Cargo Ships To Middle East

The government is considering the use of Kenya Defence Forces naval escorts to protect cargo vessels carrying Kenyan exports to the Middle East, as escalating conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt critical shipping routes.

Industry Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana said on Tuesday that authorities were exploring options for escorted shipments through high-risk maritime zones, a practice already adopted by several other countries.

Speaking during an interview on NTV’s The Last Word, Mr Mukhwana noted that Kenya lacked a national shipping line and faced rising insurance costs, but collaboration with the Kenya Navy, Kenya Maritime Authority, international coalitions, insurers and diplomatic partners could make the arrangement workable.

“We do not have a shipping line of our own, and the issue of insurance is also there. But with other countries escorting their ships, we should also be able to do that,” he said.

The proposal includes coordinated and consolidated shipments, possibly routed through hubs such as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, under government-supported frameworks.

A hybrid approach under consideration would see naval escorts provided up to safer zones, after which goods could be moved through alternative means such as airlifts or regional redistribution.

The move comes as exporters report heavy losses due to the disruption of key trade routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf waters affected by Iranian missile threats and naval actions.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned that the country is losing between Sh800 million and Sh1.2 billion weekly in export revenue. Fresh produce, meat, coffee, tea and other goods destined for Middle East markets, or using the region as a logistics hub, have been hardest hit.

Chamber officials and industry players say the losses threaten thousands of jobs and could force some businesses to scale down or close operations.

Mr Mukhwana acknowledged the immediate challenges but pointed to ongoing government efforts to cushion the sector. He noted that fuel imports remained stable, with vessels already offloading at the Port of Mombasa, despite speculation driving localised price pressures.

He also highlighted diversification measures, including a recent early-harvest duty-free export consignment to China that included avocados, macadamia, coffee, tea and horticultural produce.

The broader context involves Iran’s actions in the Gulf, which have reduced shipping traffic, increased insurance premiums and forced rerouting of vessels at significantly higher costs. Some cargo originally bound for Dubai has been diverted to Kenyan ports such as Lamu.

Kenya’s limited blue-water naval capacity and absence of a merchant fleet present practical difficulties, but officials believe partnerships with allies and private operators could enable escorted convoys where necessary.

No final decision or timeline has been announced, and the proposal remains under active consideration.

Exporters have welcomed the government’s engagement and continue to call for swift measures to safeguard trade interests in one of Kenya’s most important markets.