To address traders’ discontent over service inefficiencies, Kenya Port Authority-KPA has embarked on automating its services, Gichiri Ndua, the Managing Director has disclosed.

Gichiri said that the authority has taken significant strides in automation of essential port services in line with other efforts towards the realisation of its vision. The port handles goods destined for the East African region, DRC, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

"To continue beefing up our service provisions in order to meet the ever growing customer needs, we recently acquired and also ordered for more new equipment”, he told Business Times last week.

Traders from Rwanda led by Theodore Murenzi, the secretary General of Rwanda of the long distance truck drivers union recently complained about the inefficiencies at the port and called on the authority to take action.

Murenzi said, "We ask the port management to modernise services at the port to help us do business and deliver to our customers at the time they need goods”.

The port chief said that a new mode of service provision known as the Gate Pass Module has been implemented to streamline security control of cargo and vehicular flow while Kilindini Waterfront Operating System (KWATOS) will streamline yard and ship planning and general information management.

Gichiri added that a recently upgraded information management system has enhanced fast processing of documents at the port, which has been one of the issues causing delays.

The port, according to Gichiri, has acquired 10 rubber tyred gantry cranes, four reach stackers, 10 terminal tractors and two mooring boats, two harbour mobile cranes to cut down the time spent to clear cargo.

However, despite such efforts, the Chief Executive Officer Private Sector Federation Rogers Munyampenda notes that expansion and meeting international standards for highways will help reduce on the time goods spend on transit from the port to Malaba, the exit border in Kenya.

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