The port of Mombasa has experienced a notable increase in cargo traffic, indicating a positive trend of recovery, as reported by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) with a growth rate of 6.2 percent.
This surge is attributed primarily to focused governmental initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiency amidst rising competition from the Dar es Salaam port.
Serving as East Africa’s primary seaport, Mombasa witnessed a handling of approximately 35.8 million tonnes of goods, marking an increase from the 33.7 million tonnes recorded in 2022.
This growth contrasts with the slight decline of 2.9 percent observed in the preceding year, which was attributed to concerns surrounding potential disruptions during the country’s general elections.
The strategic importance of the Mombasa port lies in its role within the Northern Corridor, in contrast to Dar es Salaam’s connection to the Central Corridor. Both ports serve as critical nodes within trade routes linking various countries in the region.
However, challenges such as road tolls, border charges, traffic congestion, and poor road conditions along the Northern Corridor have led some businesses to explore alternative routes via the Central Corridor.
The resurgence in cargo volume, particularly in imports, which experienced a growth of 6.6% totaling 28.3 million tonnes, underscores the country’s status as a net importer, resulting in numerous containers returning empty to their points of origin.
This positive trajectory can be attributed in part to a high-level meeting convened by President William Ruto, where stakeholders from Kenya and Uganda, including shippers, transporters, exporters, and importers, congregated to strategize on enhancing port efficiency.
“The productivity of this port is directly tied to the state of our economy; improving efficiency will facilitate job creation, bolster export volumes, and stimulate economic growth,” Dr. Ruto articulated during the stakeholder engagement in Mombasa.
Among the proposed reforms is a plan by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to conduct dredging activities aimed at expanding the port’s depth and width channel, aligning with similar endeavors undertaken in Dar es Salaam. Such dredging initiatives aim to bolster the efficiency of accommodating large vessels at the port, thereby further enhancing its operational capabilities.
