By Jeremiah Waswa, Kenya
The Indian Ocean, a vast expanse of cerulean mystery, had always been a whisper in my childhood, a siren song carried on the wind from my mother’s stories. Born in the heart of Western Kenya, in agricultural lands overlooking the slopes on Mt. Elgon and surrounded by the fertile loam soil and the whispering indigenous trees, the ocean was a distant, mythical entity. My earliest encounters were through the vibrant tapestry of folklore, tales of sea serpents and mermaids, of sunken cities and whispered secrets. Books offered glimpses of its grandeur, but the true essence remained elusive, a tantalizing mirage on the horizon of my imagination.
Then came the day I finally met the ocean, not as a mythical being, but as a force of nature, raw and powerful. I was tasked with preparing the Physical and Land Use development plans for the Port of Lamu and the LAPSSET corridor integration, a project that brought me face to face with the Indian Ocean’s immense power. As I stepped off the plane at Manda airport and onto the boat at Mokowe jetty for a short journey to the island, the salty air enveloped me and I felt the ocean’s presence for the first time. The sound of the waves and the warm sun on my skin all combined to create an overwhelming sense of wonder. The salty trace of the air, the rhythmic crash of waves against the jetty concrete, the resilient mangrove trees and the endless blue – it was a sensory overload, a baptism by the ocean.
Standing on the Kenya Ports Authority jetty on the Island of Lamu – a UNESCO world heritage site, I felt a connection, a kinship with the stories I had heard as a child. The ocean wasn’t just a body of water; it was a living, breathing entity pulsating with history and mystery. The tales of my childhood, once distant and imaginary, now felt real, filled with a new depth and meaning.
The experience ignited a passion within me, a desire to understand the ocean’s intricate workings, its delicate balance and its vulnerability. This passion led me to the incredible opportunity of being part of the team spearheading the preparation of the Marine Spatial Plan for Kenya in July 2022. It was a chance to not just witness the ocean’s grandeur, but to play a role in its protection, to ensure its future for generations to come.
Now, as I stand on the edge between the land and ocean, a representative of both worlds looking at the ocean stretching out before me like a vast, blue canvas, I am no longer the child who heard stories of mermaids and sea serpents. I am a guardian, a steward of this incredible ecosystem, tasked with crafting policies that will ensure its health and sustainability. The Indian Ocean, once a distant whisper, is now a collection of life, a source of both wonder and responsibility. And I, a son of the Kenyan plains, am forever bound to its rhythm, its power, and its beauty.
“Journeys to the Sea” is a new series of inspiring stories that highlight the personal connections of marine professionals with the ocean. As a follow up to World Oceans Day on June 8th, WIOMSA is excited to launch a three-month-long celebration dedicated to the ocean. The series will feature 34 unique stories from across the Western Indian Ocean region. These stories will share firsthand accounts of ocean-related experiences, reflections, and narratives from participants who have been part of the Sida-funded International Training Programme on marine spatial planning, “Planning for a Sustainable Blue Future in the Western Indian Ocean”. The stories have been part of the Ocean Storytelling component of the workshop, led by Dr Mia Strand, Nelson Mandela University. Read the collection of stories here.
Feature photo: Lamu Town, © Unsplash
