Economy

Election jitters slow down cargo collection at port

Port px

Cargo at the port of Mombasa. Uptake of cargo slowed down following the General Election, leaving the port with 2,000 more containers at close of business on March 4,2012. Photo/File

Uptake of cargo at Mombasa port slowed down following the General Election, leaving the port with 2,000 more containers at close of business on Monday.

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) corporate affairs manager Bernard Osero said trucks did not turn up for loading on Monday, but had started arriving Tuesday.

“By Sunday night there were 10,000 twenty foot equivalent units (Teus) and since ships were being handled normally, this resulted to the increase in the cargo at the yard,” Mr Osero said. He said the railway managed to load only 15 containers instead of the usual 40.

About 1,200 containers usually leave the port destined for container freight stations or on transit.

Mr Osero, however, said there was no likelihood of congestion at the port, saying there was still a capacity of more than 7,000 Teus.

However, with transporters saying they would not load for the next two days until the outcome of the presidential election is determined, it might be a matter of time before uncollected cargo start piling up.

“Everything has been put on hold and we are not loading because there is uncertainty over security along the Northern Corridor. Despite assurances by the government, transporters don’t seem to be willing to risk,” said a truck driver who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter touching on security.

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During the 2008 post-election violence, thousands of trucks were abandoned along the Mombasa-Malaba highway, disrupting flow of supplies to neighbouring landlocked countries.

The chaos also resulted in millions of shillings of losses for transporters and importers after some trucks were set ablaze and cargo looted.

READ: Uganda traders jittery ahead of Kenya elections

“This is just a cautionary measure on our side and should not raise too much alarm. We are hopeful that with proper handling of the presidential election results, things should get back to normal in less than two days,” said the transporter.

Industry players have, however, say cargo might pile up at the port and worsen given the number of vessels expected to bring in cargo.

According to data obtained from KPA, 14 vessels are expected to bring in about 19,000 Teus through the port in the next 14 days and an additional 131,093 tonnes of conventional cargo.

The conventional goods include clinker, steel, coal and machinery used in the mining and agricultural sectors.

However, Mr Osero said there is no cause for alarm especially with the extension of berth 19 where KPA has created enough capacity.

Due to expanded capacity, the facility two weeks ago started transshipment business with more than 500 containers meant for Dar-es-Salaam port offloaded at the Mombasa port.

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