The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has unveiled a 30 year Master Plan worth 360 billion Kenyan Shillings.
The Master Plan, is aimed at transforming shipping and logistics in major ports, small coastal ports, lake ports as well as inland container depots.
The Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Daniel Manduku, made it known that the total investment of 360 billion Kenyan Shillings ($3.6 billion) will include 210 billion Kenyan Shillings ($2.1 billion) for Lamu and 150 billion Kenyan Shillings ($1.5 billion) for Mombasa, adding that existing infrastructure will be expanded and modernized such as the construction of new berths at the Mombasa port.
Daniel Manduku also praised the growth of the Lamu port through the construction of new berths for liquid bulk, dry bulk and general cargo, stating that he expects the Lamu port to have a capacity of 76 million tons by the year 2047.
The Managing Director stated that the first three berths will be ready to begin operations by October this year.
The Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia while speaking at the unveiling, said the 2018 to 2047 strategic plan, will position the Mombasa Port among leading seaports globally.
The Lamu port on the other hand, will serve Southern Ethiopia, Northern Kenya, and the South Sudan Transport Corridor.
Mr. Manduku added that, “In 2018, KPA cargo grew to 1.3 million 20-foot Total Equivalent Units (TEUs) and we are looking to handle 2.9 million TEUs by 2027, 5.5 million TEUs in 2037, and 9.8 million TEUs in 2047,” Mr. Manduku added.
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) says it will take on the development of Dongo Kundu as a Special Economic Zone in its Master Plan, while the Kisumu port will enhance regional and local trade on Lake Victoria.
Cargo handling abilities of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), have improved considerably following the operationalization of the Standard Guage Railway (SGR), which led to an increase in traffic to the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi (ICDN).
The Inland Container Depot in Nairobi (ICDN) currently handles 450,000 containers annually.
