Mombasa County suffers blow in Sh32m port parking fees bid
Cargo trucks queue at the main entrance of the Kenya Ports Authority.
The Mombasa County government has suffered a blow in its bid to collect up to Sh32 million per month from trucks operating at the port.
This is after the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) suspended the collection of county parking fees within its facilities.
KPA, which was designated as the fee collector on behalf of Mombasa County, announced the suspension of county parking and toll collection services of Sh700 per truck per day at the port. The charges, which were introduced last year, had been opposed by traders.
The announcement is a relief to more than 1,500 truckers who say the levies were introduced without consultation and agreements.
KPA managing director Captain William Ruto’s notice to customers dated February 14, 2025 informed stakeholders that the action has been taken to allow further consultations between the county government of Mombasa and the port community stakeholders.
“Further to our customer notice issued to the port community on 28th January 2025 regarding the deployment of the County Parking/Toll collection, we wish to inform you that the intended collection of parking fees by the authority has been suspended. The purpose of this notice therefore is to inform you of the suspension of the booking program for payment of the County parking/toll charges. Please continue processing the truck appointment as previously done," said Mr Ruto.
The managing director at the same time said more directives will be issued in the future.
Earlier this month, a standoff ensued between KPA and truck owners over the county government's Sh700 parking fee charges at the port which threatened disruption cargo evacuation from the facility.
Last year, the Mombasa County Government entered into an agreement with KPA and the port community allowing the Authority to collect the Sh700 daily on its behalf, up from Sh600.
At least 1,500 trucks collect cargo from the port of Mombasa per day.
Trucks pass through the Mtwapa Weighbridge Station in Kilifi County in this photo taken on February 9, 2023. The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has said delays at the Mombasa port are compounded by poor inland distribution infrastructure and non-tariff barriers such as inefficient weighbridges, which translates to high costs of doing business.
The Chairperson of the Local Transporters (Road Hauliers) Association Paul Moiben said the suspension is a relief since it was becoming expensive to do business in Mombasa County.
“Most of the traders only go to the port to pick and drop cargo not to park trucks and we felt the program was double charges considering truck owners have parking yards which they pay to the county,” said Mr Moiben.
He added, “The decision to impose the charges without prior consultation has left many transporters grappling with additional operational costs.”
Kenya Transporters Association CEO Mercy Ireri expressed optimism of stakeholder engagements in future before critical decisions are made.
“We have been fighting for this and we are happy. We hope to engage government partners more in future before making any other decisions directly affecting port businesses,” she said.