Mombasa: The Principal Secretary (PS) for Transport, Mohamed Daghar, has reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening port, railway, and road infrastructure to enhance trade and logistics both locally and across the region. Speaking in Mombasa during the inaugural International Trade and Logistics Summit, PS Daghar highlighted the ongoing construction of two berths - one at the Port of Mombasa (berth 19B) and another at the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, aimed at increasing container capacity.
According to Kenya News Agency, PS Daghar announced that the progress for berth 19B is at 19 percent and that the constructor is already on-site for the Dongo Kundu project. He further stated that the modernization of ports is on course, with plans to strengthen existing berths to enhance trade, and additional berths, specifically berth 23 and 24 at the Port of Mombasa, are being considered to prevent congestion.
From January to September 2025, the Port of Mombasa handled 32.86 million metric tons of total cargo throughput, a 9.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The port also saw a growth in container traffic, handling 1.55 million TEUs, which marks a 6.2 percent increase from the previous year.
The PS assured logistics stakeholders of the government's determination to remove non-tariff barriers and highlighted investments in road infrastructure in the Port City of Mombasa to facilitate trade in the northern and southern corridors. He elaborated on plans to expand the railway network, including a new line from the Port of Lamu to Moyale, Ethiopia, Nakodok, and Nadapal to South Sudan, as well as extending the Standard Gauge Railway from Suswa to Kisumu and from Kisumu to Malaba, reaching the Uganda border.
The two-day summit, which gathers government officials and trade and logistics stakeholders, serves as a platform for innovation and shaping the future of trade and logistics in Africa and beyond. KPA Managing Director Capt. William Ruto emphasized the importance of adopting new technologies to enhance efficiency across the supply chain, noting KPA's investments in automation for improved documentation and cargo clearance processes.
Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Mombasa Chapter Chairman Abud Jamal urged stakeholders to balance technology and human values in the rapidly evolving logistics and trade landscape. He stressed the importance of embracing Artificial Intelligence, automation, data-driven systems, and digital trade platforms to redefine operations in ports and supply chains.