Kenya: The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has pledged to deepen its collaboration with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in renewed efforts to enhance efficiency at the Port of Mombasa. The commitment was made by KAM Board member and Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee – Rashid Mohamed, during a visit to the Port of Mombasa, where they held talks with KPA leadership.
The meeting was chaired by KPA General Manager Finance and Commercial Services – Geoffrey Kavate, who represented the Chief Executive Officer – Capt. William Ruto, centred on the ongoing port infrastructure expansion, operational efficiency and strengthening stakeholder relations.
Kavate underscored that the Authority would continue in engaging industry players and addressing their concerns. He said that the Authority will continue to respond to stakeholder needs with bold and practical interventions. KAM plays a central role in driving Kenya’s economy, and the port relies on goods handled and processed by its members for both local consumption and export.
The General Manager added that KPA remains committed to maintaining a strong partnership with manufacturers and noted that increased cargo volumes at the port are closely linked to the performance of the manufacturing sector. On his part, Rashid led the delegation and commended ongoing infrastructure improvements at the port. He called for sustained collaboration to address logistical bottlenecks that are affecting supply chains.
Kavate further stated that the manufacturers depend heavily on seamless port operations, from cargo handling to clearance timelines. The strides made by KPA are encouraging and they are ready to work together to ensure that these gains translate into lower costs and improved competitiveness. He said that manufacturing remains a key pillar of Kenya’s economy, by contributing to employment and gross domestic product while supporting regional trade.
The Board member further added that the sector’s performance is closely tied to the efficiency of logistics corridors, particularly with the Port of Mombasa, which handles millions of tonnes of cargo annually and serves several land-linked countries.
Kenya Association of Manufacturers was founded in 1959. It is an umbrella body that represents Kenya’s manufacturing sector, by bringing together the large industries and small and medium enterprises across various subsectors.
At present the team includes Manager Container Operations – Peter Masinde; Manager Marketing and Customer Experience – Miriam Mwakundia; Manager Convention Cargo – Kipkemboi Tanui; Manager VTS – Capt. Habib Mahamoud and Coast Region KAM – Chairman Abdalla Athman, alongside other industry representatives.