WHY KENYA SHOULD ACCEPT ICJ RULING ON MARITIME DELIMITATION BETWEEN SOMALIA AND KENYA

KENYA is a neighbor of Somalia. Here they have no choice. Kenya is economic and diplomatic hub for mail mailand Somalia. Kenya is a home of hundreds of thousands of Somalis as its citizens and as host of huge population of Somali refugees. Kenya is the first country to benefit from offshore oil and gas drilling. Somalia and foreign oil firms would be needing Kenyan skilled labour and professional assistance. It is the vital economic interests of Kenya to improve its diplomatic, security and political cooperation with Somalia.

Still Kenya has gained a considerable portion of Somali waters of the Indian Ocean through through ICJ arbitration. Somalis were surprised to learn that the ICJ has been to generous to award Kenya with 15% of the maritime zone under dispute. Somalis consider this award unfair and political on the part of Court judges. Neithertheless, Somalis don’t sharing marine resources with their Kenyan brothers and sisters and closest neighbors. Kenyan should deliberate on this wisely. They have more to gain working with Somalis at home in Kenya proper and in Somali mailand. Look before you leap.