Mombasa – In a year marked by global economic difficulties, the Port of Mombasa has reported a commendable performance, with a 6.2 percent increase in cargo throughput, reaching 35.98 metric tonnes over the past twelve months. This growth is significantly bolstered by a surge in containerised cargo, which saw a 14.8 percent rise, making up more than half of the port’s total cargo volume.

According to Kenya News Agency, Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the port experienced an 11.9 percent growth in container traffic, totaling 1.62 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This achievement underscores the port’s pivotal role in bolstering the regional economy by facilitating both imports and exports efficiently. Ruto attributed the port’s success to enhancements in vessel turnaround times, container vessel productivity, and truck turnaround times.

In pursuit of sustained growth, KPA is focusing on augmenting operational efficiency through ongoing capacity expansion and modernisation initiatives. These efforts are aimed at ensuring the Port of Mombasa remains a significant entity in the global trading arena. “As we move forward, we remain committed to enhancing trade facilitation and economic development in Kenya and the broader East African region,” Ruto affirmed.

This announcement was made by KPA General Manager for Corporate Services Edward Kamau on Ruto’s behalf during a golf tournament in Kisumu. Ruto also highlighted the growth of the transit market segment by 11.5 percent, with Uganda maintaining its position as the primary transit country. Moreover, there has been notable growth in cargo volumes for South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Additionally, the revitalized Kisumu Port has shown remarkable improvement, posting a 119 percent growth by handling 127,745 metric tonnes in 2023, a significant increase from 58,290 metric tonnes in 2022. Efforts to maximize operations at Kisumu include the revitalization of piers and other small ports within the Lake Region, with construction ongoing at the Homa Bay pier and more developments planned for the future.

The tournament saw David Odhiambo of Nyanza Golf Club emerge victorious, scoring 41 points playing off a handicap of 25.