Stakeholders at the Port of Mombasa have praised the Kenya Ports Authority’s (KPA) directive to remove long-stay and condemned cargo, a move aimed at decongesting East Africa’s critical maritime gateway. This initiative is expected to improve operational efficiency and maximize valuable port space.

• The KPA issued a 14-day ultimatum for cargo owners to clear their containers.
• Andrew Mwangura, maritime policy analyst and former secretary-general of the Seafarers Union of Kenya (SUK), lauded the decision as a decisive step towards proactive port administration.
• Congestion from abandoned containers has hindered the port’s ability to serve Kenya and landlocked countries like Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.