Port workers against Mombasa port privatisation

This is despite a warning by the World Bank that the port is rapidly nearing saturation and will not be able to handle additional volumes without expansion. Analysts say the port will lose its competitiveness unless the new container terminal is able to develop.

The Port Master Plan as revised in 2009 identified the key role to be played by the private sector in the expansion plans for Mombasa. However the Master Plan did not examine institutional, regulatory or legal changes necessary.

While port handling figures have not yet been made available, it is expected that Mombasa will shortly exceed 20m tonnes of cargo a year. The Master Plan envisaged the port becoming a Landlord type port with the Kenya Ports Authority assuming that role and the private sector taking on the various cargo handling terminals.