Why is Mombasa Port making Sh6bn when we can hit Sh50bn - Ruto

President William Ruto speaks when he hosted coastal leaders at State House, Nairobi, May 27, 2025. /PCS

President William Ruto has said something needs to be done to maximise revenue collection from the use of the Port of Mombasa.

Speaking on Tuesday when he hosted MPs from the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu and Taita Taveta at State House, Nairobi, Ruto claimed the port currently makes only Sh6 billion.

"We must do something about the Port of Mombasa to make it much more efficient. Imagine, we are making only Sh6 billion: we can make Sh50 billion. Why do you want us to make Sh6 billion when we can make Sh50 billion?" he posed.

Debate over the privatisation of the Port of Mombasa has been ongoing, driven by calls for increased efficiency, investment, and competitiveness in the face of growing regional trade.

Proponents argue that privatisation or private sector participation could help address issues such as substandard services, bureaucratic management, and political interference that have historically affected port operations.

Leaders from the Coast listen keenly as President William Ruto makes his speech when he hosted them at State House, Nairobi, May 27, 2025. /PCS

The government and leaders from the Coast have, however, repeatedly and unequivocally opposed the privatisation of the port with Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir, who's been a vocal opponent of the privatisation efforts, warning that such a move could lead to job losses and negatively impact local businesses.

“We are not opposed to development, but we speak on behalf of millions of residents who may not be able to speak for themselves. We ask what is in it for the people of Mombasa in the privatisation of their Port?” Nassir said on September 29, 2023.

His remarks came amid claims from a section of leaders who had alleged then that there were plans to privatise the port.

Speaking at the same time in response to the allegations, Ruto emphasised that port operations were returned to Mombasa from Nairobi as a sign of his commitment and that of the government to expand it to create jobs and serve a broader regional market.

He acknowledged that the government was open to working with the private sector through concession processes aimed at improving efficiency and investment, but not outright privatisation.

“Privatisation of the Mombasa Port will not happen when we are in government…I want to assure you that we shall expand it to create job opportunities because it has the ability to serve South Sudan, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.”

President William Ruto in a group photo with leaders from the Coast when he hosted them at State House, Nairobi, May 27, 2025. /PCS

Speaking when he hosted the coastal MPs, the President reiterated the sentiments.

"We can employ more people, we can make the port much more efficient, we can connect the port to SGR. SGR will be making money, the port will be making money; we will be doing something better," he said.

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) collected Sh33.7 billion as revenue in the last six months compared to Sh27 billion in the same period in 2023, much of which was attributed to an 11 per cent growth in cargo transport in the last financial year.