President William Ruto has reverted back cargo clearance to Mombasa Port after being sworn in.
Stakeholders welcomed the announcement made on Tuesday and congratulated Dr. Ruto for keeping his campaign pledge to overturn previous President Uhuru Kenyatta’s order.
During the presidential campaigns in Mombasa and Nakuru counties, the transfer of port services from Mombasa to the Nairobi and Naivasha Inland Container Depots (ICD) was a major topic.
While their Nakuru counterparts advocate for further investment in the Naivasha ICD, Mombasa leaders have been advocating for the return of port operations to the coastal city.
“I will be issuing instructions for clearing of goods and other attendant operational issues to revert to Mombasa Port as I made a commitment to Kenyans. This will restore thousands of jobs in the city of Mombasa,” Dr Ruto said.
Port stakeholders have praised Dr. Ruto’s order, claiming that it will boost the nation’s economy.
Since using the Standard Gauge Railway would no longer be required to transport cargo, according to Roy Mwanthi, chairman of the Kenya International Forwarding and Warehousing Association (Kifwa), they anticipate a surge in business (SGR).
President Ruto made a great effort, and now Mr. Mwanthi wants the executive order to be implemented right now.
After the government mandated that all commodities be transported to Nairobi and other hinterlands via the SGR, he claimed that thousands of people had lost their jobs. The Naivasha ICD will continue to be a cutting-edge depot.
“The government facilities should be left open to those willing to use them and the government should make them efficient,” he said.
