Kenya Ports Authority (KPA's) move to introduce end-to-end logistics services has begun to bear fruit as three East African countries endorsed the service,declaring it a game changer for the region.
In an attempt to deliver goods at the client's doorstep and weed out brokers who overcharge users and cause delays, KPA introduced the end-to-end logistics services encompassing; procurement, distribution, transport, and delivery .
Uganda, South Sudan and Rwanda have welcomed the idea which may see more landlocked countries opt for the port of Mombasa which falls in line with the country's aspirations to position the facility as the region's key hub and topple its competitors in neighbouring countries.
KPA Managing Director William Ruto has in the past explained that the strategy targets transit markets and is aimed at reducing freight costs and locking out brokers.
After implementation, the Port of Mombasa will cut the transportation time by removing local clearing agents. These agents had complained that the introduction of end-to-end logistics services would render them redundant.
The authority is set to re-advertise the tender for the provision of the services despite the opposition. KPA's Acting Manager for Corporate Communication Jones Buchere revealed that KPA is working on overdrive to remain the market leader and enhance business growth.
"Several initiatives have been adopted including tariff-based incentives, increase of free-storage period and end-to-end logistics solutions to offer a one-stop service," Buchere told a local publication on Saturday.
Meanwhile, this came after a high-ranking Rwandese government official toured Kenya in a visit believed to have been exploratory as the country assesses its logistics options.
Transport officials from Uganda and South Sudan have also met their Kenyan counterparts, meetings which largely fell under the same theme.
James Kabarebe, the retired general and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Cooperation, Republic of Rwanda, toured the Nairobi Terminus on Saturday, February 17.
"He viewed dispatch operations which include signalling of trains, loading and offloading at the Port, safety of train operations through the systems, and planning of track maintenance work," Kenya Railways communicated in a statement.
In January, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen wooed Rwanda to increase its operations at the Port of Mombasa. He added that since the Port started to operate for 24 hours, the facility can accommodate more activity from regional partners.
"I urge government agencies and other service providers to take advantage of the 24-hour services at the Port to improve service delivery," Murkomen remarked.
During the meeting with the CS, Rwanda indicated that it had selected the Naivasha Dry Port to set up a cargo facility in Kenya, a move designed to facilitate the transportion of goods between the two countries.
