ITP Success case - Kenya

Integrating Marine Spatial Planning into Marine Protected Area management

Through an individual change project within Kenya Wildlife Service, Anastacia Mwaura has initiated efforts to integrate MSP principles into the planning and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

The initiative contributes to aligning conservation management with Kenya’s emerging national MSP process by strengthening institutional awareness, mobilising resources, and initiating a pilot spatial planning process in the Mombasa Marine Protected Area.

“Formalising MSP within Kenya Maritime Authority was crucial for enhancing governance, fostering sustainable livelihoods, aiding vulnerable coastal communities, and safeguarding the marine environment for future generations.”

Weak internal readiness for marine spatial planning

Kenya Wildlife Service is mandated to establish and manage MPAs, primarily for conservation purposes, under the Kenya Wildlife Service Act (2013).

However, increasing pressure from competing ocean uses, limited spatial coordination, and gaps in integrating ecosystem-based management into existing regulatory and planning frameworks are making effective management more challenging. As a result, illegal activities in MPAs are increasing, placing additional demands on Kenya Wildlife Service and raising the costs of surveillance and enforcement.

At the same time, MSP is gaining importance in Kenya, including through the development of a National Marine Spatial Plan. Despite this progress, awareness and application of MSP principles in local planning processes, such as MPA management plans, remain limited. As a result, opportunities to improve coordination between ocean users, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and support sustainable coastal livelihoods are not fully realised.

Building a shared understanding before building systems

During the ITP MSP programme, Anastacia Mwaura from Kenya Wildlife Service initiated a change project aimed at integrating MSP principles into the national Protected Area Planning Framework (PAPF). The objective was to strengthen spatial coordination in the management of marine protected areas by introducing ecosystem-based and spatially coherent planning approaches. By integrating MSP principles into existing planning frameworks, the project seeks to reduce user conflicts, improve ecosystem health and align marine conservation efforts with national and global sustainability commitments.

From individual initiatives to institutional topics

Institutional awareness and leadership support for MSP increased within Kenya Wildlife Service. An awareness workshop held in August 2025 brought together senior managers and technical staff, strengthening understanding of MSP as a tool for ecosystem-based marine management and helping to build internal champions. External funding was mobilised through the Hifadhi Blue programme to support the development of a new management plan for the Mombasa Marine Protected Area, including piloting a spatial planning approach that could serve as a model for other MPAs in Kenya. The initiative also strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration. A scoping meeting brought together government agencies, community representatives, conservation partners and private sector actors to initiate dialogue on spatial planning and potential zonation within the MPA.

Conditions that enabled the change

Participation in the ITP MSP programme provided new knowledge and perspectives on ecosystem-based spatial planning and helped identify gaps between existing MPA management approaches and MSP principles. Strategic timing also played an important role. The regional training coincided with a funding opportunity through the Hifadhi Blue programme, enabling the development of a concept proposal that secured financial support for the pilot project.

Strengthening MSP for the future

The initiative provides an important starting point for integrating MSP into protected area management in Kenya. The pilot process in the Mombasa Marine Protected Area is expected to generate lessons that can inform future MPA planning and contribute to Kenya’s broader national MSP process.

By strengthening institutional awareness, mobilising resources and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, the project supports the gradual integration of ecosystem-based spatial planning into marine conservation governance in Kenya.