With Somalia in its backyard, no country has more at stake in the fight against piracy than Kenya. As the only administration presently prosecuting Somali pirates, the Kenyan government has earned a reputation as an anchor in the region by going to great lengths to combat and punish pirates.
In addition to cutting off financial resources, the Merchant Shipping Act of 2009 greatly increased the penalty for captured pirates. Whereas the sentence was once just 10 years, those convicted of armed robbery on ships in Kenyan waters now serve life sentences upon conviction.
Last month, the government passed the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, which calls for a Financial Reporting Center to be established in Nairobi. The Center will work to identify the proceeds of the crimes and combat money laundering. It will work with law enforcement and intelligence organizations both within Kenya and internationally to cut off the source of income of pirates.
The Act also requires banks to closely monitor any unusually large or suspicious financial transactions and report to the Financial Reporting Center immediately. The newly formed Assets Recovery Agency is tasked with recovering any proceeds of piracy quickly and efficiently.
The Kenyan Navy has also provided all ships traveling in Kenyan waters with a thorough list of precautions and strategies to avoid attacks.
Piracy has surged to the forefront as a high impact global menace. According to the ICC International Maritime Bureau, there were 306 pirate attacks in 2009 alone. 114 of those ships were boarded while 34 were successfully hijacked. These accounted for 661 total hostages.
The Kenyan government has taken a proactive role in the international fight against piracy. This hard-line approach is expected to reduce attacks through preventative measures and enhanced punishments.