Kenya Ports Authority and the Shippers Council of East Africa have agreed on a coordinated set of measures designed to accelerate throughput and reduce friction points at the Port of Mombasa. The commitments were forged during an engagement forum hosted at a Nairobi hotel, where both sides sought to map practical solutions to infrastructure and operational bottlenecks that have intensified alongside climbing cargo volumes.
Forum Context and Institutional Commitments
Managing Director Captain William Ruto opened the session by calling on industry players to converge on durable remedies for recurring challenges, describing the effort as a shared responsibility within the port ecosystem. His remarks were directed at the Shippers Council, the umbrella body representing cargo interests across the region.
SCEA Chairman John Msafari underscored the value of structured dialogue, arguing that ongoing coordination between port authority and shippers is indispensable to sustaining efficiency. The body has been pressing for clearer timelines on infrastructure projects and more responsive handling of operational complaints raised by freight owners.
SCEA Chief Executive Agayo Ogambi endorsed the direction of KPA's current agenda, noting that the Port of Mombasa has continued to post reliable performance despite mounting pressure on terminal capacity. His statement signaled the council's willingness to support implementation provided commitments translate into measurable improvements on the ground.
Infrastructure and Technology Upgrades Underway
At the physical level, KPA is expanding capacity through the ongoing rehabilitation of berth 19B, a project intended to accommodate deeper-draft vessels and reduce vessel waiting times. Separately, the authority is building a dedicated yard for empty container management—a longstanding pain point for shippers who have faced storage constraints and repositioning delays when import containers are not retrieved promptly.
On the digital side, KPA is upgrading its terminal operating system to improve cargo tracking, discharge sequencing, and gate-to-gate movement visibility. A pilot automation project at gates 23 and 24 is also in progress, designed to strip out manual inspection and documentation checks that have traditionally slowed entry and exit flows. KPA has indicated the model will be extended across the entire port perimeter once the initial phase proves stable.
The port processed 45.45 million metric tons of cargo in the preceding year, a volume figure that has elevated equipment acquisition to the top of KPA's procurement priorities. The authority intends to bring in additional handling gear to shore up both quayside discharge rates and hinterland evacuation capacity.
A separate session held with fresh produce exporters produced a commitment from the managing director to remove impediments hindering outbound cargo from reaching overseas markets. That engagement reflects an expanding focus within KPA on supporting Kenya's horticulture and perishable goods supply chains, which depend on reliable port scheduling and minimal dwell times.