By Tracy Kavai
ATHI RIVER, KENYA – On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Daystar University’s Athi River campus became a global stage for maritime and diplomatic discourse as the School of Arts and Social Sciences hosted its annual Diplomatic Day.
The high-level summit, themed “Shared Perspectives on Blue Economy, Maritime Security, and Diplomacy,” brought together a formidable assembly of regional power players, international envoys, and ambassadors from the ASEAN region to bridge the gap between academic theory and the urgent geopolitical needs of the Indian Ocean rim.
The event moderated by Dr. Radoli Ouma Radoli, PhD, Associate Dean of the School of Communication, kicked off with a vibrant performance by the Daystar University Choir and a solemn prayer session led by University Chaplain Rev. Miano Weche, who urged attendees to “take reconciliation into the world and become ambassadors of peace.”
Dr. Radoli took a central role in welcoming a high-profile delegation that included Mr. Joseph Boinnet representing Ambassador Monica Juma, Director-General of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime at Vienna, Ambassador Nancy Karigithu (representing CS Hassan Joho), and Mr. Mustafa Ibrahim (representing PS Dr. Abraham Korir Sing’oei). The international diplomatic corps was strongly represented by H.E. Witjaksono Adji (Indonesia), H.E. Marie Charlotte G. Tang (Philippines), H.E. Ruzaimi Mohamad (Malaysia), Ms. Ruvini De Silva (Sri Lanka), and Ms. Piyaporn Putanapan (Thailand). Also in attendance were Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Ndirangu of the Kenya Naval Training College, Dr. Solomon Njenga of the Mashariki Research and Policy Centre, and Mr. Paul Kariuki of the ICRC.
Opening the official speaking program, the Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Dr. Josephine Munyao, welcomed the guests by emphasizing the pedagogical mission of the day. She stated, “The goal of this annual event is to link classroom learning and real-life experiences. We are looking forward to learning a lot, and by the end of this day, we will be very rich.”
Following the Dean, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Research and Student Affairs, Prof. Samuel Muriithi, grounded the economic discussion in ethical responsibility, noting that “God gave humanity responsibility over the earth. Let us be good stewards of creation and the ocean economy,” while calling for firm legislation to protect the environment.
The security of the continent’s waters was then addressed by Mr. Joseph Boinnet, the former Inspector General of Police, who delivered a message on behalf of Ambassador Monica Juma. Mr. Boinnet cautioned that economic growth is impossible without safety, stating, “We need to safeguard sea lines of communication, protect offshore infrastructure, and create stability within which trade and livelihoods can flourish.” This was followed by Mr. Mustafa Ibrahim, who noted that “diplomacy today extends beyond traditional state-to-state relations and now incorporates the blue economy to prevent systemic weaknesses in governance.” Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Ndirangu then explained the military’s role, stating that the “Kenya Navy turns maritime strategy into diplomacy, securing the ocean and building partnerships.”
Representing the policy frontier, Ambassador Nancy Karigithu delivered a powerful charge on behalf of CS Hassan Joho, declaring, “The real blue economy is not a political concept, it’s not a slogan, but a tangible, measurable, governable resource base that Kenya is only beginning to unlock.”
The international community then provided a global blueprint for cooperation, led by H.E. Witjaksono Adji, who described the Indian Ocean as a “bridge connecting Africa and Asia.” He was supported by H.E. Marie Charlotte G. Tang, who remarked that “advancing maritime rights is a shared responsibility,” and H.E. Ruzaimi Mohamad, who highlighted Malaysia’s model of safe maritime activities. Ms. Ruvini De Silva and Ms. Piyaporn Putanapan both concluded that diplomacy remains the primary tool to ensure the Indian Ocean remains a zone of peace.
The technical and humanitarian complexities were rounded off by expert perspectives from Dr. Solomon Njenga, who detailed the “Climate-Security-Peace nexus,” and Mr. Paul Kariuki, who reminded the summit that humanitarian protection must remain at the heart of all maritime policies.
The event concluded with cultural networking and a tree-planting ceremony, reaffirming Daystar University’s mission to shape future global citizens through excellence and servant leadership.