THE REVERTING OF KENYA PORT AUTHORITY SERVICES.

 

President William Ruto has returned all port operations transferred to Nairobi and Naivasha Inland Container Depots (ICDS) to Mombasa, reversing one of the most controversial policies of the Jubilee administration

The Port of Mombasa is the key entry and exit point for cargo belonging to a vast hinterland that include Kenya, Uganda Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia.

The return of the port to Mombasa has lead to multibillion shilling projects that seek to reinforce the country’s economic development and also increasing  the standards of  living  of  the people of Mombasa include; Sh32 billion Phase Two of the second container terminal, Sh40 billion Kipevu Oil Terminal (KOT) and Sh1 billion Cruise Ship Terminal.

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has also constructed a Sh2 billion 1.2 kilometer six-lane concrete Kipevu road to facilitate the speedy evacuation of sea cargo from the port facility.

The infrastructural improvement under the Mombasa Port Development Programme (MPDP) initiative, has seen the construction of a Sh500 million modern tug jetty at the marine dockyard, which is crucial for port operations.

The new port infrastructure developments are envisaged to firmly consolidate the new era of the port as a critical transport and logistics hub in the region.

The port expansion projects seek to transform the Mombasa port, the gateway to East and Central Africa, into the most efficient, competitive, modern and safe port in Africa.

The port expansion works are part of plans to transform Mombasa port into the region’s transport and trade hub besides improving its efficiency and giving it a competitive edge.

According to the government and maritime stakeholders, the improvement of the port infrastructure will catapult Kenya into the league of key global transshipment and commercial maritime hubs.