President Kenyatta moves to enhance efficiency at KPA

Containers at the port of Mombasa. Delays in clearing often lead to congestion at the port. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP, By PPS, Friday, June 14   2013 

 

In Summary

• The President directed that all customs decisions be made and finalised at the Port of Mombasa without further reference to Nairobi

President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered all Government departments involved in the running of the Port of Mombasa to streamline and synergise their operations in order to enhance efficiency.

President Kenyatta directed that the multiple players in Government involved in Port operations be properly coordinated under the leadership of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director who will have direct control over all operations.

The President was speaking on Friday at State House, Nairobi during a meeting he called specifically to address inefficiencies at the Port.

The meeting was attended by top officials of KPA, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate (KEPHIS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), security agencies, Ministry of Transport, Industry and the National Treasury.

During the meeting, the KPA Managing Director was given full mandate to institute immediate disciplinary measures to those who do not adhere to the agreed instructions.

The President further directed that all customs decisions be made and finalised at the Port of Mombasa without further reference to Nairobi which has created delays in the past.

In this regard the Commissioner of Customs was directed to relocate to the Port.

The Head of State also ordered the immediate digitisation of the clearing process and the modernisation of weighing of cargo. He further ordered the upgrading of Simba system and fast-tracking of the single window system that will automate the clearing process.

The President said the Trans-shipment Bond should be abolished with immediate effect. He further said Clearing and Forwarding Service companies and transit sheds located inside the Port should be removed to ease congestion.

He added that authorised Clearing and Forwarding Service companies and commercial banks in the clearing area must operate on a 24/7 basis or have their licences cancelled.

President Kenyatta said preferential treatment will be given to goods that are pre-certified and issued with certificates of conformity from the port of origin as opposed to those which will not have been certified.

The Head of State further said that a KEBS laboratory in Mombasa should be in place by 2014 to avoid relying on the laboratory in Nairobi which causes delays.

To ease traffic congestion, President Kenyatta said the Government will prioritise the construction of a dual carriageway from Changamwe to Jomvu.

The President also ordered the formation of a special committee tasked with the responsibility of rejuvenating the railway transport system so as to accommodate more cargo, saying this will also reduce destruction of roads as well as road carnage.

He said weighbridges will also be modernised, adding that container goods weighed at Mariakani and with untampered seal will be allowed to travel to Malaba without further inspection at police roadblocks.

The President pointed out that roadblocks will be replaced with mobile traffic surveillance. In this regard, President Kenyatta urged the private sector to support the electronic vehicle tracking system to take effect without further delay.