For a country like Rwanda, with no access to the continent’s massive water bodies, the cost of moving goods from ports in Mombasa and Dar la salam is very high. But yet still, the distance that exists between the country and the closest ports is long, hence a need for added facilities if trade in the country especially export is to be increased to more volumes.

It is in line with this that Kenya Ports Authority is finding possible solutions to ease the movement of goods to Rwanda which is vital to boosting trade.  Today, the distance has been reduced and importers in Rwanda can clear their containers from the Inland Container Deport in Nairobi.

William Ruto the GM Operations and Harbour Master at KPA, one reason why Rwanda should use Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Nairobi is the distance aspect. "We need to compare the return journey between Kigali and Darla Salam which is 3400km yet from Kigali to Nairobi and back; the distance is 2200 which means traders will be saving 1400km if the clear their goods from our ICD in Nairobi”

Ruto was speaking during the stake holders forum on inter Agency Marketing Mission held at Serena Hotel in Kigali on the 7th June 2018 where many delegates from Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda were discussing on the progress made in handling imports at the ports and easing trade in the region.

According to Ruto, KPA has improved efficiency at the ICD and has been it easier for Rwanda by providing them with a separate stacking for their containers.

"I can guarantee you that within 4 hours, after the container lands in Nairobi, KPA is able to clear your containers and better still we have made it more convenient for Rwanda because the containers for Rwanda are being stack in a separate area so that we don’t get them mixed with the local imports or the other countries” says Ruto.

Another thing that Kenya Ports Authority has introduced is the smart gates and bar coding that when you go at the ICD in Nairobi, there is no human intervention. Whether you are be it in Kigali, your clearing agent will be able to print you a gate pass such that when you reach the gate, you just place the bar code and the gates will open and you go load your container.

Kenya Ports Authority is the biggest Port in the region with a network of Liaison offices in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda & Burundi. The Authority’s mandate is to maintain, operate, improve and regulate all scheduled sea ports situated along Kenya’s coastline.