The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) have signed a new agreement designed to make cargo clearance faster and ease congestion at the Port of Mombasa. The move is part of the government’s plan to improve trade facilitation and strengthen Mombasa’s position as the most efficient maritime hub in East and Central Africa.
The agreement, signed at KPA headquarters in Mombasa and witnessed by officials from the Executive Office of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, outlines 13 key measures to streamline operations and reduce cargo dwell time. Both agencies aim to create a smoother and more transparent process that supports importers, exporters, and shipping lines operating through the busy port.
Under the new measures, cargo heading to Nairobi and other upcountry regions will be transported by rail to the Nairobi Inland Container Depot (ICD). Goods destined for Uganda and other neighboring countries will be cleared through the Naivasha ICD. Cargo meant for Mombasa will continue to be processed at Container Freight Stations (CFSs).
To encourage the clearance of long-stay cargo, KPA and KRA have agreed to waive 100% of accrued storage and warehouse rent, as long as importers apply for the waiver within 30 days. Shipping lines are also being urged to waive container detention and demurrage charges to support the decongestion effort.
The KRA will introduce several new systems to make cargo handling more efficient. These include faster auction procedures for unclaimed goods, a risk-based cargo scanning approach, and the rollout of a Pre-Arrival Processing (PAP) system that allows documentation to be completed before cargo arrives at the port.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, KPA Managing Director William Ruto said the partnership marks “a new era of operational synergy aimed at reducing dwell time and maintaining Kenya’s competitiveness as a regional gateway.”
KRA Commissioner for Customs Lilian Nyawanda added that the measures will enhance “transparency, speed, and coordination between government agencies and the private sector.”
The Port of Mombasa serves as a vital trade route for landlocked nations such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With these new reforms, Kenya hopes to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and attract more global shipping traffic to its shores.
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