Port stays open to check congestion
Kenya Ports Authority yard in Mombasa on February 20, 2014. The government is finalising talks with Japan on funding the second phase of the second container terminal at Mombasa Port, Deputy President William Ruto said Wednesday. FILE PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |
What you need to know:
- He said the port was targeting to clear one million 20 feet Equivalent Units (TEUs) by December 29.
- KPA managing director Gichiri Ndua said in a notice in the local dailies that adequate arrangements were in place to ensure services were delivered without a hitch.
- The KPA boss said the port had strategies in place to avoid hitches during the peak period.
Operations at the port will go on as usual during the festive season.
Offices will remain open to avoid delays in clearing cargo, according to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) communication official Hajj Masemo.
“We do not want to inconvenience our clients. If we shut down, come January, we will have congestion,” Mr Masemo said on Tuesday.
He said the port was targeting to clear one million 20 feet Equivalent Units (TEUs) by December 29.
“This will be a big achievement for the port which handled 894,000 units last year, and 906,000 in 2012.
LESS BACKLOG
Uganda business representative William Kidima said this year there was less backlog of cargo, owing to improved efficiency in clearance.
“Movement of goods destined for Uganda has improved. I urge importers to collect their cargo in time to avoid inconveniences,” Mr Kidima said.
KPA managing director Gichiri Ndua said in a notice in the local dailies that adequate arrangements were in place to ensure services were delivered without a hitch.
“We appeal to all our customers to clear their cargo without delay to avoid penalisation and congestion,” Mr Ndua said.
The call to expedite clearance of merchandise at the port is informed by past experiences where congestion usually persist in January after the long holidays.
The KPA boss said the port had strategies in place to avoid hitches during the peak period.
ILLEGALY CONSTITUTED
However, some stakeholders are unhappy with the list of names of the Special Rapid Response Port Advisory Committee, claiming it is illegally constituted.
“We are opposed to the Kenya Ports Authority list because names of some associations and government agencies have been left out,” Vehicle Import and Export Association chairman Peter Mambembe said.
According to him, those omitted include the Association of Importers of Kenya, Car Importers Association of Kenya, Association of Long Drivers, Dock Workers Union, Association of Ships Contractors, Ministry of Health, and National Transport Safety Authority.
He criticised the picking of the committee members without consultations with stakeholders.
