KPA Issues New Port Guidelines After President Ruto’s Order

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has begun implementing President William Ruto’s directive to resume clearing goods at the Mombasa port.

KPA Managing Director, John Mwangemi, confirmed to all shipping lines in a statement issued on Monday, September 26 that the place of clearance and mode of transport for their goods will be at their discretion.

Furthermore, shipping lines were advised to make it easier for importers to nominate places of clearance, such as port clearance, Kenya Revenue Authority’s Licensed Container Freight Stations (CFSS), and Kenya Ports Authority’s Inland Container depots.

“Kenya Ports Authority wishes to affirm its commitment to implement the directive by His Excellency the President during his inauguration on 13th September 2022 that “clearing of all goods and other attendants operational issues to revert to the Port of Mombasa,” KPA stated.

He also stated that the notice superseded the 2018 directive, which required importers to use Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

According to a public notice issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Kenya Ports Authority, all imported cargo for delivery to Nairobi must be conveyed by the SGR and cleared at the Nairobi Inland Container Depot. Furthermore, all imported cargo bound for Mombasa and its environs would be cleared at the Mombasa port.

“KRA and KPA are committed to the highest standards of providing services to all our customers in accordance to the Port Community Charter,” read part of the notice. 

During his inauguration speech, Ruto stated that the directive to revert operations to the Mombasa port was required to boost the country’s economy and improve the ease of doing business.

“I will be issuing instructions for clearing of goods and other attendant operational duties to the port of Mombasa as I made a commitment to Kenyans. This will restore thousands of jobs in the city of Mombasa,” Ruto pointed out.