​REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN, KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY MAJOR (RTD) MARSDEN MADOKA, EGH,K.St.J, DURING THE KPA STAKEHOLDERS LUNCHEON ON 13^THSEPTEMBER 2017 AT THE RADISSON BLU HOTEL, NAIROBI

 The Cabinet Secretary for Transport,Infrastructure,Housing and Urban Development, Mr. James Macharia, EGH

The Principal Secretary State Department of Transport, Prof. Paul Maringa Mwangi (PHD), CBS

KPA Managing Director, Catherine Mturi-Wairi

KPA Board of Directors present

Distinguished Stakeholders

Members of the Fourth Estate present

All Invited Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 I am delighted to see you all at this forum which provides us with an opportunity to share thoughts and ideas that matter to our mutual business.

 Bwana CS, as the Managing Director has already mentioned, I equally echo her sentiments and appreciation for gracing this occasion and for your continued support.

 Your Ministry has championed for effective and impactful adaptation of an intermodal transport mindset amongst stakeholders. The introduction of the SGR is a clear statement of how Kenya and her regional trade partners can move cargo through diverse modes of transport.

 As the Authority mandated with port operations, we appreciate that no matter what a people would like to achieve, presence of an effective transportation system is a prerequisite.   To effectively handle emergencies, efficiently manage security logistics, timely delivery of finished products and raw materials to the markets, there is a need to have a properly established land and marine transport system. Once a country has such systems in place, there must be a deliberate effort to have a focused team that consistently thinks of how to expand, improve and maintain the infrastructure in conformity with socio-political and economic dynamics.

 In the same vein, it is evident that no success in the management of a full transport system can be achieved by any one party in isolation. Success therefore calls for input from every player in the logistics chain and indeed from everyone in the entire social-economic fabric. This thinking explains why KPA believes in working and collaborating with the stakeholders represented here and others.

 In this regard, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to, on behalf of the Board, thank our Chief Guest in a special way for his continuous support in our endeavor to make Mombasa Port a regional maritime facility of choice.  Indeed, the KPA Board and Management can testify that your hands-on approach, open door policy and unreservedness in expressing your views and thoughts is part of what has  made us come this far. It is important to note that your Ministry has provided oversight on two critical projects within the 12 to18 months we are reviewing today. The commissioning of the Second Container Terminal and soon the operationalization of SGR freight services from Mombasa to our ICD facility in Nairobi.

 Distinguished Guests

The Managing Director has shared performance data and a summary of the completed and ongoing development programmes we have undertaken towards providing world class services. I would like to add that KPA is also working closely with our parent Ministry to develop small ports along the coastline and also inland waterways.

At the moment our focus is on Shimoni and Kisumu ports in South Coast and Western Kenya, respectively. Surveys on both facilities have been carried out and consultants have compiled reports to advise on the way forward.

As a Board, we shall continue to remain alive to our responsibility as the custodian of the KPA vision that focuses on developing world class ports of choice. Accordingly, we continue to focus on ensuring that our ports have well trained personnel, modern equipment, automated services, modern security systems, ample capacity, effective hinterland transport systems and continuous stakeholder engagements.

Together, we should therefore strive to work hard bearing in mind that apart from Kenya, we have a heavy responsibility to serve the whole Region.

 With these few remarks, I now wish to invite The Principal Secretary State Department of Transport, Professor Paul Maringa to make his remarks and invite the Cabinet Secretary to deliver his key note address.

 Thank you and May God bless you.