The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) have signed a new agreement aimed at expediting cargo clearance, easing congestion, and boosting efficiency at the Port of Mombasa.
The pact, signed at KPA headquarters in Mombasa and witnessed by the Executive Office of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, outlines 13 key measures to streamline operations and reduce cargo dwell time. The agreement is part of a broader government initiative to enhance trade facilitation and position Mombasa as the most efficient maritime hub in East and Central Africa.
Under the new measures, cargo destined for Nairobi and other upcountry regions will be railed to the Nairobi Inland Container Depot (ICD), while goods bound for Uganda and other regional markets will be relocated to the Naivasha ICD for clearance. Cargo intended for Mombasa will continue to be processed through Container Freight Stations (CFSs).
To encourage faster clearance of long-stay cargo, KPA and KRA will waive 100% of accrued storage and warehouse rent, provided importers apply within 30 days. Shipping lines have also been urged to waive container detention and demurrage charges.
Additionally, KRA will expedite auction processes for unclaimed goods, implement risk-based scanning procedures, and roll out a Pre-Arrival Processing (PAP) system to enable documentation before cargo arrival.
Speaking during the signing, KPA Managing Director William Ruto described the move as “a new era of operational synergy aimed at reducing dwell time and maintaining Kenya’s competitiveness as a regional gateway.”
KRA’s Commissioner for Customs, Lilian Nyawanda, noted that the measures would “enhance transparency, speed, and coordination between government agencies and the private sector.”
The Port of Mombasa handles trade for several regional nations, including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the DRC. The reforms are expected to reduce clearance time, lower costs, and attract more global shipping traffic to Kenya.
