Kenya Ports Authority has updated its Master Plan to provide a long term development programme aimed at aligning its business plan in line with the government wheeled vision 2030.
Addressing Senior Managers of KPA at a Mombasa Hotel recently, the Acting Managing Director Mr. Gichiri Ndua said the Authority will continue to provide operational excellence through modernization and expansion of port facilities.
Mr. Ndua also said that other measures to support the country’s development goals included involvement of public private partnership in the development of port infrastructure and provision of services, dredging of port to allow larger vessels to the port and benchmarking of facilities and services with international standards.
The two day business plan workshop was organized to define business objectives and goals of the organization. Mr. Ndua added, “We need to redouble our efforts to improve our operations and ensure efficient service delivery as we review this document.” He also emphasized the need to identify challenges that were likely to affect the performance of the port in the future and put in place strategies to mitigate against them.
There has been encouraging growth in port traffic with the year ending 2009 witnessing a total port throughput growth of 16.1 per cent to register 19.6 million ton of cargo from 16.42 million ton the previous year.
The turn-around time of container vessels has also shown improved performance from 4.2 days recorded during the first quarter in 2008 to 3.0 days in the same quarter in 2009 while the average container dwell time is currently 5.6 days against 8.6 days reflecting an improvement of 34.9 percent or 3.0 days. “These are commendable achievements which have resulted in the recent operational improvements,” said Mr. Ndua.
The workshop also came at a time when the organization is undertaking various initiatives to improve its performance and service delivery.
The port master plan indicates some of the short term proposals to include dredging of the channel to 15.0 meters, development of berth 19, rearrangement of berth 16 – 19 container yard, improvement of gate 19 and widening of road to Kipevu Oil Terminal, development of a new oil berth and establishment of a LPG berth.
In essence, since these developments are expected to have a major impact on the port and in the end register growth in domestic and regional economies, the participants were urged to critically examine business plan strategies that will focus on increasing the capacity to improve efficiency and competitiveness of the port. “In addition, this plan should enhance port productivity, increase market share and ensure safety and security of the port,” he said.
Meanwhile, the recently released report on evaluation of the performance of public agencies for the year 2008/2009 placed Kenya Ports Authority in position 13 overall out of 139 state corporations that were evaluated. In the commercial and manufacturing category, the organization stood at position 5 out of 29 state corporations.
The performance contract in management of the public service was introduced in 2003 aimed at rationalizing governance and ensuring that public institution work better and cost less.
ENDS
12th May, 2010.