By Edwin Macharia
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has received a “Very Good” rating under the government’s Performance Contracting framework for the 2023/24 financial year, marking another milestone in the authority’s drive towards operational excellence and service delivery.
Speaking during a recognition ceremony held at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) Nairobi, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir praised KPA for its strong performance, which earned the authority a composite score of 2.9697 points.
Chirchir described the achievement as a reflection of the dedication, professionalism and resilience demonstrated by the KPA Board, management and staff despite challenges facing the global maritime transport sector.
“This is a remarkable achievement that reflects the commitment and hard work of the entire KPA team in delivering efficient and reliable port services,” he said.
The recognition comes against the backdrop of strong growth in cargo and container traffic at the Ports of Mombasa and Lamu.
During the 2025/26 financial year, the two ports handled a combined 2.24 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) and 46.4 million tonnes of cargo, representing an 8 per cent increase compared to the previous period.
The growth follows a record-breaking performance in 2024 when the Port of Mombasa surpassed the two million TEU mark for the first time in its history, cementing Kenya’s position as the leading maritime gateway to East and Central Africa.
Chirchir also congratulated KPA for successfully attaining the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System certification and the ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System certification.
He said the certifications demonstrate the authority’s commitment to environmental sustainability, workplace safety and adherence to internationally recognized standards.
Addressing participants at the recognition event, the Cabinet Secretary commended KPA for the transformation achieved through the performance contracting process.
“Excellence is not measured by promises but by results. KPA has shown that commitment, discipline and innovation can transform public service into a driver of national growth. This recognition is a challenge to aim even higher and keep Kenya’s ports among the best in Africa,” Chirchir said.
The recognition follows a directive by President William Ruto to acknowledge public institutions and employees that have demonstrated exceptional performance in delivering on their targets and mandates.
On behalf of the Ministry of Roads and Transport, Chirchir urged KPA to build on the achievement by continuing to pursue innovation, efficiency and service excellence in order to strengthen the competitiveness of Kenyan ports in the regional and global maritime industry.