Joseph Olanyo
14 August 2008
It is now official. Cargo delivery from Mombasa Port and all border entry ports to the hinterland land locked countries will now be done 24 hrs seven days a week, a move expected to speed up cargo movement on the northern corridor route.
Police roadblocks that have been hampering free movement of goods on the lucrative sea route have also been reduced from 47 to 15, while trucks with four axle loads have been banned on Kenyan roads.
The decision arrived at after a meeting between Kenyan President Mr Mwai Kibaki, ministers and permanent secretaries in various trade ministries on August 11, takes immediate effect.
The meeting reviewed steps that must be urgently taken to speed up movement of goods on the vital corridor and other entry border points.
Axle loads are set limits on the maximum weight of vehicles. Four axle loads have been banned because of overweight. Heavy goods vehicles have been using four axles to overload. Below four axles is considered normal weight.
The northern corridor route runs from Mombasa port to the Great Lakes region landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Uganda is the biggest user of Mombasa in the region. 70 per cent of transit goods from Mombasa are destined for Uganda. Initially, it was only Mombasa port that was operatng round the clock (24 hrs), while delivery of goods from the port, which is under the mandate of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Rift Valley Railways was done in normal working hours.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Resident Representative in Uganda Mr William Mtengo said on Tuesday that the move is geared towards enhancing efficiency of cargo delivery for imports not only in Kenya but the wider Great Lakes Region states.
"The Kenyan government is taking the hinterland market seriously and anything that would jeopardise the smooth movement of cargo," said Mr Mtengo.
"As KPA, we welcome the Presidential directive to harmonise our operations. Any importer is at liability to come to the port and collect the cargo as they wish. We shall pursue this matter to its logistical conclusion"
Ugandan importers have welcomed the decision saying it will enable timely delivery of their goods, which has been affecting their business.
However, the traders, through their umbrella association-Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), also want the Kenyan government especially Kenya International freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) to put a directive on clearing agents whom they say are reportedly conning Ugandan traders.
"I think we are impressed with the decision. We also urge that the infrastructure frameworks like the rail be worked upon to speed up delivery of goods," said KACITA spokesperson Mr Isah Sekito
The Kenyan government has further directed that in order to speed up the process at weigh bridges, vehicles will be weighed only at the source but only in regard to enclosed cargo, which must have seals for easy recognition by ministry of roads and police.
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