Kenya's government, under fire for long delays in moving goods through Mombasa port, has ordered its port at the Indian Ocean, the gateway to Uganda, to stay open permanently.
Businessmen and neighbouring states praised the move by President Mwai Kibaki to speed up processing through Mombasa, which previously closed for 12 hours at night and throughout the weekend.
The crucial role of the port for the region was highlighted during Kenya’s post-election crisis earlier this year when Uganda and its landlocked neighbours suffered severe shortages of food and fuel because of blocked supply routes.
In addition, Uganda lost sh2b a day in taxes from imports and exports, while farmers and traders lost another sh1b a day in export revenues.
“President Kibaki has today directed the implementation of a 24 hours, seven days a week service delivery at the port of Mombasa,” a statement said late on Monday.
“All the relevant government organs have one week to fully implement the directive.”
Kibaki and former opposition leader Raila Odinga, now prime minister of a coalition government, also announced the removal of unnecessary police roadblocks, where transporters say they suffer major delays and are forced to pay bribes.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the first East African Business Forum last month decried the obstacles to trade and business in the region.
He cited congested and ineffective ports, bureaucracy at border crossings, dilapidated railway lines and a multitude of road blocks and weighbridges which he said encouraged corruption.
Kenneth Bagamuhunda, the customs director of the five-member East African Community (EAC), said transit time would be cut as a result of the decision.
“It is high time because there has been a lot of congestion,” he said.
Tanzania, whose port of Dar es Salaam operates 24 hours a day, said Kenya’s move would benefit it as well.
“Customers are looking for efficiency. When ships call at the two ports, the shipping lines would be happy for both ports to be efficient, not just one efficient port,” said Jason Rugaihuruza, the port manager.
Last week, Odinga held a roundtable meeting with businessmen and announced a raft of measures to improve transport efficiency.
That came after another announcement giving the company running the Kenya-Uganda railway concession three months to raise $40 million capital and improve cargo movement.
Businessmen and neighbouring states praised the move by President Mwai Kibaki to speed up processing through Mombasa, which previously closed for 12 hours at night and throughout the weekend.
The crucial role of the port for the region was highlighted during Kenya’s post-election crisis earlier this year when Uganda and its landlocked neighbours suffered severe shortages of food and fuel because of blocked supply routes.
In addition, Uganda lost sh2b a day in taxes from imports and exports, while farmers and traders lost another sh1b a day in export revenues.
“President Kibaki has today directed the implementation of a 24 hours, seven days a week service delivery at the port of Mombasa,” a statement said late on Monday.
“All the relevant government organs have one week to fully implement the directive.”
Kibaki and former opposition leader Raila Odinga, now prime minister of a coalition government, also announced the removal of unnecessary police roadblocks, where transporters say they suffer major delays and are forced to pay bribes.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the first East African Business Forum last month decried the obstacles to trade and business in the region.
He cited congested and ineffective ports, bureaucracy at border crossings, dilapidated railway lines and a multitude of road blocks and weighbridges which he said encouraged corruption.
Kenneth Bagamuhunda, the customs director of the five-member East African Community (EAC), said transit time would be cut as a result of the decision.
“It is high time because there has been a lot of congestion,” he said.
Tanzania, whose port of Dar es Salaam operates 24 hours a day, said Kenya’s move would benefit it as well.
“Customers are looking for efficiency. When ships call at the two ports, the shipping lines would be happy for both ports to be efficient, not just one efficient port,” said Jason Rugaihuruza, the port manager.
Last week, Odinga held a roundtable meeting with businessmen and announced a raft of measures to improve transport efficiency.
That came after another announcement giving the company running the Kenya-Uganda railway concession three months to raise $40 million capital and improve cargo movement.