Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has announced a 100% waiver on accrued port storage and warehouse rent charges for long-stay containerised cargo at the Port of Mombasa. The notice, shared by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) on Thursday, November 20, applies to cargo that has overstayed at the port and is set to run until Saturday, December 6, 2025.
Importers with long-stay containers are required to submit a formal application to KPA or Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), either directly or through licensed clearing agents, to benefit from the relief. According to KPA, this initiative aims to ease the burden of demurrage and warehouse rent fees, which can accumulate rapidly and sometimes exceed the value of the goods.
“A 100 per cent waiver is being offered on Port Storage Charges and Customs Warehouse Rent for long-stay containerised cargo at the Port of Mombasa,” the notice stated. Shipping lines have also been directed to waive all accrued container demurrage charges.
However, the waiver does not cover primary port charges, rail freight, shipping line fees (delivery order and terminal handling), or statutory taxes, which remain payable.
This temporary relief is expected to benefit Kenyan importers as well as regional traders from Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, who rely on Mombasa as a key gateway. The move follows frequent delays at East Africa’s busiest port that have previously resulted in high demurrage costs.
Normally, containers at Mombasa Port enjoy seven to nine free days for clearance. Delays beyond this period trigger daily storage fees, often called demurrage or warehouse rent. With this waiver, importers have the opportunity to save millions of shillings in penalty charges, provided applications are lodged before the December 6 deadline.
KPA urges all affected members to act promptly to benefit from this significant relief.
