Press Center | Freight Shipping Logistics News
Aug 12, 2008
General
caxias
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called for improvement in cargo handling and document processing at the port of Mombasa to reduce piling up of goods.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called for improvement in cargo handling and document processing at the port of Mombasa to reduce piling up of goods.
During a press conference at Moi International Airport on Monday at the conclusion of his three-day tour of Mombasa, Mr Odinga expressed concern over bottlenecks which he blamed for the clogging of cargo.
This, according to the PM, requires urgent harmonisation of operations between the port and its major stakeholders, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
“What is apparent is that no matter how much money the Government invests to improve container handling, this cannot succeed unless there is improvement of the processing of goods by the KRA and KEBS,” he added.
He called on KRA and KEBS to cut off their documentation bureaucracies to facilitate the quick handling of cargo, especially those destined for Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
“Why ban cargo movement destined to these countries after 6 o’clock in the evening?” he asked.
Mr Raila directed KPA, KRA and KEBS to give “special attention” to goods in transit, saying “our inefficiency” should not hurt the neighbouring countries’ economies.
Requirements
He said after listening to transporters, shipping lines representatives and exporters using the port he was convinced that 80 per cent of them were generally complying with the port’s requirements.
“Only 20 per cent are unscrupulous businessmen who want to cheat. It is important that the Government does proper profiling of such individuals with the view of blacklisting them from using the port facility,” he said.
He said the Government would ensure people doing genuine trading business at the port would do so without having to incur “unnecessary delays or expenses”.
“Trade is very crucial to this economy,” he said.
During a press conference at Moi International Airport on Monday at the conclusion of his three-day tour of Mombasa, Mr Odinga expressed concern over bottlenecks which he blamed for the clogging of cargo.
This, according to the PM, requires urgent harmonisation of operations between the port and its major stakeholders, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
“What is apparent is that no matter how much money the Government invests to improve container handling, this cannot succeed unless there is improvement of the processing of goods by the KRA and KEBS,” he added.
He called on KRA and KEBS to cut off their documentation bureaucracies to facilitate the quick handling of cargo, especially those destined for Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
“Why ban cargo movement destined to these countries after 6 o’clock in the evening?” he asked.
Mr Raila directed KPA, KRA and KEBS to give “special attention” to goods in transit, saying “our inefficiency” should not hurt the neighbouring countries’ economies.
Requirements
He said after listening to transporters, shipping lines representatives and exporters using the port he was convinced that 80 per cent of them were generally complying with the port’s requirements.
“Only 20 per cent are unscrupulous businessmen who want to cheat. It is important that the Government does proper profiling of such individuals with the view of blacklisting them from using the port facility,” he said.
He said the Government would ensure people doing genuine trading business at the port would do so without having to incur “unnecessary delays or expenses”.
“Trade is very crucial to this economy,” he said.
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