Ports’ Embakasi Inland Depot Registers 300% Growth in Cargo Handling

The Kenya Ports Authority Nairobi Inland Container Depot has received a total of 9735 container units since January 2018.

This comprises 7248 imports, 1151 exports, and 1336 empty container units.

Since commissioning of the revamped Nairobi Inland Container Depot in December 2017, the latter now receives three trains carrying 324 units daily up from 108 units in January 2017. This is a 300 percent growth during the period under review.

According to Kenya Ports Authority, Managing Director, Catherine Mturi-Wairi, the numbers need to be scaled up significantly in order to enhance Terminal operations fluidity at the Port of Mombasa that receives 3000 container units per day.

“We have instituted a number of measures to ensure that we support this critical investment, reduce road congestion and cost of doing business. Some of the measures include – a reduction of handling charges, the formation of a multi-agency SGR operationalization committee, and the establishment of a call center at the ICD. The initiatives are supported by a 24/7 work schedule at ICD, improved infrastructure and ICT systems at Nairobi ICD,” noted Ms. Mturi-Wairi.

She added; “There is no law that compels people to use the SGR cargo service. It is purely on a willing buyer and willing seller basis. Our role is to provide a very competitive and efficient system that will draw business to use the service and together we can grow our economy.”

“Relying on a single mode of transport raises transport costs, retards economic growth and development due to high costs of doing business and makes the country’s export be less competitive in the global marketplace. Most of the cargo handled at the Port of Mombasa moves to the industrial area in Nairobi and to transit countries, which are over 500 kilometers away. It is uneconomical to move huge cargo volumes by road,” concluded Mrs. Mturi-Wairi.

The development comes in the wake of a recent reduction of cargo handling charges by the Ports Authority.  According to KPA’s new charges, a 20ft container from Mombasa to Nairobi via the

Standard Gauge Railway now costs $80 from $103 while a 40ft container unit cost $120 down from $157.  Charges for the handling of transit containers stand at $60 per 20ft container unit and $90 for a 40 ft container unit down from $125.

The move is expected to enhance efficiency at the Port of Mombasa