Kenya has given Rwandan and Ugandan importers one month to clear thousands of uncollected containers at the Mombasa port or risk having them auctioned.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) stated that uncollected containers from the two countries are taking up prime storage space, slowing down the clearance and handling operations at the region's largest port.
Managing Director Gichiri Ndua said an efficient port should have ample yard space all the time which can only be made available consistently when customers are equally ready to remove their containers from the port immediately they land or within the allowed free-stay period.
"As of March 4, 2015, there were 2,435 cargo containers (3,464 TEUs) for Uganda customers that have been at the port beyond 21 days and of this number, 293 units (393 TEUs) have been at the port for more than three months," he disclosed.
Kenya Ports Authority states Ugandan importers, who are the top transit users of the port of Mombasa, have been slow in taking up the amnesty accorded to specified Uganda cargo which is set to expire by April 15. Rwandan importers have also been urged to collect long stay cargo by mid next month or have them auctioned in order to create space.
"Because we are in dire need of the prime yard space and in the spirit of supporting business growth in East Africa, the Government has given the waiver for collection of specific long-stay containers at the Port and the deadline is on April 15. We therefore appeal to you to take advantage of this opportunity and collect your consignments to avoid them being auctioned," Ndua said.
overall performance
Ndua spoke at separate meetings with stakeholders in Kigali, Rwanda and Kampala, Uganda where he issued the overall performance of the port of Mombasa and challenges facing the key gateway to East and Central Africa region.
The port of Mombasa is the main entry point for traders in the east African region and serves Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Total cargo throughput at the port recorded a 11.5 per cent rise to sit at 24.875 million tonnes last year compared to 22.307 million tonnes handled in 2013.
The port further saw a 7.7 per cent increase in import traffic, recording 20.777 million tonnes in 2014 compared to 19.150 million tonnes handled in the corresponding period in 2013. KPA sates that the increase was largely due to more traffic from Ugandan traders whose cargo rose by 609,830 tonnes compared to 2013.
South Sudan, an emerging market, is currently the second highest transit destination recording a total of 761,336 tonnes last year. KPA has further expressed optimism that the construction of the Sh24 billion second container terminal is 80 per cent complete and set to be completed by march next year.
The latest move by KPA is the latest in trade policy directives that have put the region's commitment of lowering trade barriers to the test.
Last week Tanzania moved to limit the entry of Kenya's national carrier Kenya Airways into its air-space, citing a stalemate on bilateral air services agreements.
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