President acts to boost port efficiency

President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered all government departments at Mombasa port to streamline their operations to enhance efficiency.

In a move that is expected to hasten movement of transit goods, the President also said the trans-shipment bond should be abolished with immediate effect.

President Kenyatta directed players involved in port operations to be properly coordinated under the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managing director who will have direct control over all operations.

“All customs decisions should be made and finalised at the port without further reference to Nairobi which has created delays in the past. In this regard, I direct that the Commissioner of Customs relocates to the port,” the President said.

KPA managing director Gichiri Ndua was given full mandate to institute immediate disciplinary measures against those who do not adhere to the instructions.

The President was speaking on Friday evening at State House, Nairobi, during a meeting he called to address inefficiencies at the port.

The meeting was attended by top officials of KPA, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate (Kephis), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), security agencies, ministries of Transport, Industrialisation and the National Treasury.

The President ordered clearing and forwarding service companies and commercial banks in the clearing area must operate on a 24/7 basis or have their licences cancelled.

He also said the Simba system should be upgraded and the single window system that will automate the clearing process fast-tracked. Since introduction in 2005, the Simba system has been facing challenges, with downturns delaying clearance of cargo.

He further said clearing and forwarding service companies and transit sheds located inside the port should be removed to ease congestion.

“Preferential treatment will be given to goods that are pre-certified and issued with certificates of conformity from the port of origin as opposed to those which will not have been certified,” the President said, adding that a Kebs laboratory will be set up in Mombasa by 2014 to avoid relying on the laboratory in Nairobi.

To ease traffic congestion, President Kenyatta said the government will prioritise the construction of a dual carriageway from Changamwe to Jomvu.

The President also said weighbridges will be modernised, adding that transit goods weighed at Mariakani and with seal will be allowed to go to Malaba without further inspection at police roadblocks.

He pointed out that roadblocks will be replaced with mobile traffic surveillance.