Kenya Shipyards Limited is proposing a new ship repair facility at the Port of Mombasa that would allow the country to service larger vessels operating in the Indian Ocean.
The state corporation wants to build a graving dock, a specialised structure that allows ships to be taken out of the water for repairs and maintenance.
The proposed facility would accommodate vessels measuring between 185 and 285 metres long and is expected to handle up to 32 ship repair contracts annually.
This would be a major increase from the corporation’s current capacity, which allows it to accommodate only five vessels at a time.
Kenya Shipyards presented the proposal to the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations during an inspection of its Kisumu shipyard on Friday, November 6. The estimated cost of the Mombasa project was not disclosed.
The corporation said the expansion would help address the shortage of ship repair facilities serving vessels operating in the Indian Ocean.
Lawmakers also reviewed other plans, including proposed passenger ferry services on Lake Turkana.
Since 2020, when it was established, Kenya Shipyards has been working towards improving its capability of building, maintaining, and repairing ships locally.
One of the most significant projects carried out by the firm has been MV Uhuru II, a cargo ship that measures 100 metres long, which was constructed at the expense of Ksh2.4 billion. The ship began ferrying cargo between Kisumu Port and Port Bell in Uganda from September 2024.
The corporation has also purchased fibre-laser cutting equipment, robotic welders, and technology for manufacturing boats made of High-Density Polyethylene.
Head of Production Brigadier Peter Muthungu told the committee that direct engagement with equipment suppliers had helped reduce costs from Ksh718 million to Ksh366 million.
However, MPs raised concerns about the corporation’s continued dependence on government funding despite handling projects valued at Ksh6.22 billion.
Management explained that payments are received in stages after agreed project milestones are completed. This creates gaps between the money spent on projects and the time revenue is received.
Mandera North MP Abdullaih Bashir challenged the corporation to become financially independent within the next two financial years.
The proposed Mombasa facility comes as the port faces questions over its efficiency. In its 2024 assessment, the World Bank ranked Mombasa among the world’s worst-performing ports, pointing to congestion, administrative delays and operational inefficiencies.
