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Kenya has been challenged to develop its smaller ports and decongest the Mombasa one.
Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, the Tanzanian vice president, on said there was need to invest in infrastructure to increase revenue earned from port services.
During his tour of the Mombasa port, Dr Shein said smaller ports help in handling smaller and specialised goods hence increasing revenue for the country. “In Tanzania, we are investing in smaller ports which help to clear special goods such as fish,” he said.
Developing infrastructure is one of the goals of the East African Community. The regional bloc will in July open its doors for the free movement of goods and citizens across the borders of the five countries.
“Apart from concentrating on modernising the port through automating it, there is need to market it abroad and also to replace old handling machines and cranes,” said Dr Shein.
Kenya has more than smaller ports at Shimoni, Vanga, Kiunga and Kilifi. It also plans to build a bigger one at Lamu with the help of the Qatar government.
Kenya Ports Authority managing director James Mulewa said KPA’s biggest challenge was lack of adequate funds to modernise its infrastructure.
KPA is currently seeking for more than Sh3 billion to improve its infrastructure. “Plans are underway to construct the second container terminal, dredge the channel to attain enough depth to accommodate bigger ships and to convert berth 11 to berth 14 to full container handling facilities,” said Mr Mulewa.
By ANTHONY KITIMO