Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) management on Monday issued a notice to shipping lines and agents on the reversion of port services back to Mombasa.
On September 13, during his inauguration, President William Ruto issued a directive that all port operations should be reverted back to Mombasa.
“This afternoon I will be issuing instructions for clearing of goods and other attendant operation issues to revert to the port of Mombasa as I made a commitment to Kenyans,” said President Ruto.
Ruto said the move will restore thousands of jobs to the people of Mombasa County.
Last week, the clearing agents and the Mombasa County leadership demanded that KPA issues a public notice in line with the Presidential directive.
KPA acting managing director John Mwangemi on Monday said they affirm their commitment to implement the directive by President.
“This is therefore to notify all shipping lines that importers’ documentation of place of clearance and mode of transport for their goods shall be at their choice,” said Mwangemi.
In a notice to shipping lines and agents, Mwangemi said, shipping lines are advised to facilitate importers' nomination of a place of clearance.
“This includes; port clearance, Kenya Revenue Authority’s licensed Container Freight Stations (CFSs) and Kenya Ports Authority Inland Container Depots. This notice superseded the notice issued on June 6, 2018,” said Mwangemi.
Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (Kifwa) national chairperson Roy Mwanthi said “the new notice is a step in the right direction.”
“Let the importers have freedom of choice. This will allow for the market forces to decide the prices for cargo clearance and haulage,” said Mwanthi.
