New Mombasa Port has Increased Container Handling Capacity to 2.1M -Ruto

President William Ruto has said that for the port to get its value for the money the facility must operate efficiently.

The president reiterated that the government is determined to maximize on infrastructure at the port of Mombasa to make it efficient.

He said for the facility to be efficient it required to be commercially sound.

The president added that what is at stake is on how to maximize on the facility’s infrastructure at the port of Mombasa.

He pointed out the facility has enough capacity to make port users get the best opportunity to be served.

“The port is important with infrastructure and facilities to operate within,” he added.

Ruto said this is in the context of the country and region at large through development partners.

He was speaking during a stakeholders breakfast forum held at the port of Mombasa.

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The Head of State told the open forum with port users that the government has worked with several partners to develop the facility and infrastructure around the port.

Ruto disclosed in 2015 the facility had only one container terminal but there is now a second container terminal where they were now meeting.

He disclosed the new facility has increased the number of twenty-foot equivalent unit [TEU’s] from 1.1 million to 2.1 million.

‘’Let us continue with the leverage on the investment that has been made at the facility,” he said.

meanwhile, the volume of cargo handled at Mombasa Port increased by 3.3 percent between January to June this year compared to a similar period last year, new data shows.

The data released by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) shows that the Port handled 18.06 million tonnes compared to 17.48 million tonness in a similar period in 2022 – an increment of 584,554 tonnes or 3.3 percent.

This comes amid fierce competition from the Port of Dar Es Sallam which toppled Mombasa in the World Bank’s ranking on the most efficient ports.