Defending Integrity and Progress at Kenya Ports Authority

Andrew Mwangura

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

In recent weeks, an orchestrated campaign of misinformation has been launched against the Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Captain William Ruto.

This campaign, seemingly backed by entrenched business interests, is a blatant attempt to tarnish the reputation of a public servant whose only “offense” is doing his job with integrity.

Capt Ruto has emerged as a transformative figure at KPA, championing reforms that have disrupted decades-old networks of corruption and privilege. Under his watch, both the Port of Mombasa and Lamu Port have experienced a revival rooted in professionalism, transparency, and efficiency.

For too long, these vital economic arteries were held hostage by politically connected cartels who thrived in a climate of opacity and impunity. That era is now being dismantled.

Tangible Results

The transformation at the Port of Mombasa is not merely rhetorical—it is measurable. Recent statistics demonstrate the port’s robust performance under reformed management:

Total Cargo Throughput:

– The Port of Mombasa achieved a record total cargo throughput of 35.2 million tonnes in 2024, representing a 7.3% increase from 33.8 million tonnes in 2023;

– This positions Mombasa as the largest port in East Africa, handling nearly 40% of the region’s seaborne trade

Container Traffic Growth:

– Container throughput reached 1.52 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2024, up from 1.41 million TEUs in 2023—an 8.2% growth rate;

– Containerized cargo witnessed remarkable expansion with a 15.7% growth factor, reflecting improved handling efficiency and increased shipper confidence;

– The port now handles over 85% of Kenya’s containerized imports and exports

Transit Cargo Performance:

– Transit cargo to regional markets including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo totaled 8.4 million tonnes, representing a 12% year-on-year increase;

– Uganda remains the largest transit destination, accounting for 68% of all transit cargo through Mombasa;

– Transit cargo now represents 24% of the port’s total throughput, up from 21% in previous years

Bulk Cargo Volume:

– Bulk cargo handling reached 18.7 million tonnes in 2024, with petroleum products accounting for 12.3 million tonnes;

– Dry bulk commodities including wheat, fertilizer, and clinker totaled 6.4 million tonnes, showing a 9.8% growth factor;

– The port’s enhanced bulk handling facilities have reduced demurrage costs for importers by an average of 23%

Transhipment Hub Development:

– Mombasa Port’s role as a regional transhipment hub has been significantly strengthened, with 180,000 TEUs handled as transhipment cargo in 2024;

– The port now serves as a hub for smaller regional ports including Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, and emerging ports along the East African coast;

– Transhipment operations have created an additional revenue stream worth $45 million annually while positioning Kenya as a regional maritime gateway

Maritime Traffic Growth:

– Over 2,100 merchant vessels called at the Port of Mombasa in 2024, up from 1,950 in 2023;

– The port welcomed 15 cruise ships during the 2024 tourism season, contributing significantly to Kenya’s blue economy initiatives;

– Average vessel turnaround time improved to 3.2 days, down from 4.8 days in previous years

These figures underscore the port’s enhanced operational efficiency and growing attractiveness to international shipping lines and cruise operators.

Reforms Delivering Results

The MD’s insistence on merit-based tendering has returned fairness to procurement processes. For the first time in years, contracts are being awarded based on competence and capacity—not connections.

This has naturally unsettled those who built empires on sweetheart deals and expired leases. Instead of embracing change, these vested interests have resorted to attacking the messenger, using the media to peddle falsehoods and sow distrust.

But the facts speak for themselves. Port operations have become markedly more efficient. Cargo clearance times have improved, revenue collection is up, and digital systems are curbing opportunities for graft.

Infrastructure upgrades are advancing steadily, and internal audits have consistently affirmed the absence of financial irregularities at the Authority under Captain Ruto’s leadership—a rarity in a sector historically riddled with mismanagement.

The improved cargo handling capacity and increased ship calls demonstrate that international maritime operators have confidence in the port’s reformed operations.

The growth in cruise ship arrivals particularly highlights the port’s enhanced reputation and operational standards, as cruise lines maintain strict requirements for safety, efficiency, and service quality.

Standing Against Regression

These achievements are not coincidences; they are the result of principled, focused leadership. Capt Ruto has shown that state institutions can operate with transparency and serve the national good—if only given the chance.

Let us be clear: those attacking the KPA MD are not crusaders for justice. They are defenders of a discredited status quo. Their goal is not better governance, but the return of an arrangement where a few individuals siphoned public resources at the expense of national development.

Kenya cannot afford to slide back. The port is a lifeline to the region’s economy, handling cargo worth over $20 billion annually and serving as the gateway for trade across East and Central Africa.

Reforming it is not optional—it is essential. Capt William Ruto deserves commendation, not condemnation. The public, media, and political leadership must see through the smear and stand in defense of reform, accountability, and integrity.

The winds of change are blowing at KPA. Let us not allow them to be stilled by the noisy desperation of the threatened few.

The writer is a Maritime Affairs Analyst and Maritime Policy Advocate.