Former DWU officials Paul Abisa [C] and Wycliffe Baraza [R] in Mombasa on Monday / JOHN CHESOLI



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Workers at the Port of Mombasa on Monday rallied behind Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managing director Captain William Ruto, calling on President William Ruto to extend his term, citing strong performance and improved working conditions at the country’s main maritime gateway.

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Captain Ruto was appointed on March 10, 2023, by then Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for a three-year term that expires in two months. He took over from John Mwangemi, who had been serving in an acting capacity since 2020.

Speaking in Mombasa, port workers and former Dock Workers Union (DWU) officials said Captain Ruto’s leadership had delivered record-breaking performance at the Mombasa, Lamu and Kisumu ports, while significantly improving staff morale.

Former DWU official Paul Abisa said KPA’s achievements under Captain Ruto had attracted local and international recognition, including awards from a London-based maritime institution.

“There is a London school that awarded Captain Ruto the Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute and the Bear Award, accolades that vividly corroborate his work,” Abisa said.

According to KPA statistics, the authority handled 2.142 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, up from two million TEUs in 2024. Cargo throughput rose to 45 million tonnes from 41.1 million tonnes, representing an 8.6 per cent increase.

Abisa said the port handled 1.4 million TEUs in both 2021 and 2022 before Captain Ruto’s appointment. In his first year in office in 2023, throughput rose to 1.6 million TEUs before hitting two million TEUs in his second year.

“Today we are celebrating yet another record — 2.143 million TEUs,” Abisa said, adding that improved port performance supports jobs, businesses and livelihoods across the country.

He said the government’s confidence in KPA management was reflected in the allocation of Sh41 billion for port expansion. Ongoing and completed projects include the construction of Berth 19B at the Port of Mombasa, the Shimoni Special Economic Zone, the Shimoni Fish Port and Market and the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone.

In an end-year message to staff last December, Captain Ruto attributed the port’s success to teamwork, resilience and commitment by employees.

He said strategic infrastructure development, acquisition of modern equipment and sound managerial policies had attracted new shipping lines and increased vessel calls.

Among the notable milestones was the maiden call of the liquefied natural gas–fuelled MV Höegh Australis, the first vessel of its kind to dock at an East African port, highlighting Mombasa’s readiness for next-generation, lower-emission shipping.

Captain Ruto said KPA is pursuing further capacity expansion and efficiency improvements, while Lamu port continues to grow as a regional transshipment hub.

Kisumu port has also emerged as a strong performer, handling 416,019 tonnes by November 2025 and projected to surpass 500,000 tonnes by year-end.

Former DWU official Wycliffe Baraza said Captain Ruto’s leadership style had strengthened relations with workers.

“He listens and acts, which is one of the best qualities of a leader,” Baraza said.