The government has rewarded the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Board and staff following the Authority’s strong performance in the 2023/2024 Performance Contracting cycle, where it attained a “Very Good” rating.
Speaking at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) Nairobi, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced that KPA achieved an overall composite score of 2.9697 points during the 20th performance contracting cycle for the 2023/2024 financial year.
Chirchir said President William Ruto had directed that the Authority’s Board and employees be recognised for their measurable achievements under the performance contracting framework.
“It is against this background that His Excellency Dr William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, directed that the KPA Board and staff be rewarded in recognition of their measurable achievements,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
He congratulated the KPA Board, management and staff for what he termed as exceptional performance and dedication to duty, noting that the achievement had earned the Authority national recognition.
The CS also commended KPA for recording increased cargo volumes at both the Port of Mombasa and the Port of Lamu despite challenges facing the global maritime industry, including disruptions caused by the Red Sea crisis and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that affected global trade and shipping routes.
According to Chirchir, the resilience and commitment of KPA employees enabled the country’s two commercial ports to maintain their strategic role in facilitating regional trade and supporting economic growth.
He urged staff to sustain the momentum and continue surpassing performance targets while strengthening the Port of Mombasa’s position as a globally competitive maritime gateway.
The Cabinet Secretary further emphasized the importance of continued investment in infrastructure modernization, digitalisation of port operations and acquisition of modern cargo handling equipment to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Chirchir also lauded the Authority for attaining two internationally recognised standards — ISO 14001:2015 for Environmental Management Systems and ISO 45001:2018 for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems — describing the certifications as a demonstration of KPA’s commitment to sustainable and safe port operations.
He called on staff to remain focused on delivering quality services to customers and stakeholders in order to reinforce Kenya’s standing as a leading maritime and logistics hub in East and Central Africa.
KPA Chief Executive Officer Capt. William Ruto welcomed the government’s recognition, thanking both the administration and the Authority’s workforce for their contribution towards improved efficiency and service delivery.
He said KPA would continue implementing modernization and digitalisation initiatives aimed at streamlining port operations and enhancing customer experience in trade facilitation.
