Process of returning port operations to Mombasa starts, but stakeholders concerned on the pace

The process of reverting port operations to Mombasa has started, but a section of stakeholders are concerned about the pace.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Senior Operations Officer Patrick Makau says that in-house reorganisation - which entails deploying more staff in affected departments for efficiency - has began.

During his campaigns, President William Ruto promised the Coastal people to return port services to Mombasa from the Nairobi and Naivasha inland ports. In his inauguration speech, President Ruto directed the relevant authorities to ensure that his campaign pledge is actualised.

"There has been no more Container Nomination Team meetings and all Mombasa container clearance requests are being allowed... We are fully committed to totally implement the presidential directive as we wait for further guidelines," a communication from Makau to departmental heads reads in part.

The concerned stakeholders are now calling upon the government to hasten the process.

Kenya International Forwarding and Warehousing Association Chairman Roy Mwanthi told Nation.Africa that KPA is yet to issue communication to shipping lines to inform importers to use the Mombasa Port as their clearing point.

"Two or three years ago, KPA ordered shipping line agents to nominate all cargo on transit to be cleared in Nairobi. This will not change until communication is issued to revoke the order,” Mwanthi says.