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KPA offers amnesty on storage charges as import season enters peak
Fuel Tankers enter Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Yard in Mombasa. Report says KPA is leading the way in creating new offices without conducting workload analysis.
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has offered a significant amnesty on port storage charges for long-stay containers as the import season begins, with more than 50 vessels set to dock in the next 14 days.
The Mombasa port manager has offered an 80 percent waiver on the accrued storage fees as one of the strategies to ease pressure on the port.
The KPA, in a notice to clients, outlined the terms for domestic and transit cargo, which is valid until November 6. Any cargo not cleared under the amnesty will be transferred to Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD).
“This measure is expected to improve port efficiency by clearing up space currently occupied by aged cargo.
“We intend to expedite the clearance of cargo by offering 80 percent amnesty on accrued storage fees,” said KPA Managing Director William Ruto in an October 15, 2025, notice.
KPA said the waiver applies to long-stay containers that have been at the Mombasa port for more than 21 days from the date of the notice, and those affected cargo owners must lodge a waiver application to be considered for the reduction. While offering the amnesty, the KPA, however, warned that all long-stay transit containers that are not cleared within the notice period will be transferred to the Naivasha ICD.
“This transfer will be at the owner’s cost. Furthermore, these containers shall attract normal storage charges from the date the container landed in Mombasa,” Mr Ruto.
The announcement is issued at a time when the port is expected to handle a total of 50 vessels, with 34 accounting for container ships in the next 14 days.
According to the KPA port vessel schedule, Mombasa port will receive 11 conventional cargo vessels, four car carriers, and two oil tankers, with the influx benefiting the second commercial port, Lamu, which will handle seven container vessels during the period.
Shippers Council of Eastern Africa CEO Agayo Ogambi asked KPA to ensure services continue as scheduled during festivities to maintain efficiency, as October to December are peak importing months, as retailers replenish inventories and stock up for the holiday season.
KPA said it is undertaking a port cleaning exercise to free up yard areas and to maximise the use of all spaces to enhance safe and efficient operations and service delivery.
In the long term, KPA is expanding its container terminals with the old Kipevu Oil Terminal (KOT) already being demolished to expand berth 19.
The old KOT was decommissioned after the completion of a new facility, which has a capacity to handle four vessels.
KPA management is also working with CFS owners to expand their facilities to handle more cargo, which has remained the same for two decades despite increasing cargo flow.
“Apart from port expansion, we are working with other stakeholders, including CFSs, to expand their facilities to accommodate increasing cargo throughput in the country,” Mr Ruto said.
Last year, the port handled about 2.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (Teus) with a projection to reach 2.4 teus by the end of this year from 1.4 million in 2012.
