Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Davis Chirchir has lauded the Kenya Ports Authority’s continued investment in digital transformation and smart port initiatives, saying the projects are positioning the Port of Mombasa among the region’s most competitive maritime facilities.
Speaking during the official opening of the 5th Annual Engineers Conference 2026 in Naivasha, Chirchir highlighted key projects being undertaken by Kenya Ports Authority, including the installation of Smart Gates, upgrading of the Terminal Operating System and investment in the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone.
The CS said the initiatives were critical in improving operational efficiency, automation, security, customer experience and data-driven decision-making.
“For KPA, engineering is at the heart of the transformation of Kenya’s maritime gateway. From ongoing port expansions and modernisation of berths to the development of resilient infrastructure and deployment of advanced cargo-handling systems, engineers play a critical role in designing, building, maintaining and ensuring the safety and efficiency of port infrastructure,”statement read.
The conference brought together engineers, industry leaders, government agencies and other stakeholders under the theme, “Engineering Transformation: Scaling Green Growth, Smart Infrastructure and Resilient Futures.”
Chirchir challenged engineers to embrace the shift from traditional systems to digital technologies and from carbon-intensive development to greener infrastructure in order to build resilience for the future.
He noted that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence-assisted design, digital twins and Internet of Things sensors were already helping reduce errors, shorten design cycles, support predictive maintenance and enable real-time monitoring of infrastructure.
For the Kenya Ports Authority, engineering remains central to the transformation of Kenya’s maritime gateway, with ongoing port expansion projects, modernization of berths, development of resilient infrastructure and deployment of advanced cargo-handling systems.
The conference also provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and explore collaborations aimed at advancing Kenya’s infrastructure development, energy transition, green growth and long-term resilience.