The advent of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the current war on contraband goods have placed the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) on the radar.

With the government focus on improved infrastructure as an enabler to economic development, the port management will continue to be under pressure and its performance one of public interest.

And the pressure has clouded the other things happening at the port. The management of KPA should provide information to the public about what they are doing to ensure the port remains viable.

With the passing of the Access to Information Act 2016, one hoped that proactive disclosure of information as an accountability measure would be readily embraced.

This would also enhance public participation and understanding of key government projects to generate support for government agenda.

Globally, port business has increased and plays a major role in economies. And with modern trends where many shipping lines are banded together to enjoy economies of scale, what are we doing to position our port to play the all critical role in the transit business?

And what is the management doing to ensure the port maintains a competitive advantage over the other ports in the region?

Remarkable progress has been made with the SGR.  There is increased revenue collection. Phase one of the SGR became operational with the passenger services in June last year and freight services between Mombasa and Nairobi in operation. 

Starting with one train ferrying 108 containers daily from the port to the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi, there has been an addition of one train every month and the launch of the eighth train carrying a total of 864 TEUS daily since August.

What is being done to deal with the operations of the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi, especially with congestions and logistical hitches, even after the upgrade where its annual capacity expanded from 180,000 TEUs to 450,000 TEUs?

What is the progress on the construction of the Lamu Port, which was expected to open up trade links with the northern neighbours through the LAPSSET corridor?

There were plans to increase the access to Mombasa Port to the great lakes region through the construction of a road linking Mombasa and Burundi through Holili and Singida-Kobero borders. What is the progress of this 545km road?

Where are we with the construction of a dual carriageway between Mombasa and Mariakani, which was expected to extend to Malaba via Nairobi? What is the impact so far of the Dongo-Kundu bypass, which was to ease transport between port of Mombasa’s Second Container Terminal to the Mombasa-Nairobi highway?

With the prospect of oil export, what are the plans to handle oil products at the port and the progress with plans to develop a modern oil handling facility by relocating the Kipevu Oil Terminal to a new location? —The writer works for the Media Council of Kenya

Source Mediamax

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