President William Ruto commissions the Mombasa Commuter Rail Services, on September 17, 2025. He was accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindki and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir. [PCS] Travellers and residents of Mombasa have every reason to smile after the launch of Mombasa Commuter Rail Services (MCRS) which is expected to improve transport within the city’s logistics hubs. The rehabilitation of the 13.8-kilometre metre-gauge railway will also reduce congestion in logistics hubs of Changamwe and Miritini, where trucks pick up and drop off containers. The MCRS will also reduce the cost of commuting from the city to Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)…
Author: By Philip Mwakio
Speed boats parked in the Indian Ocean along the North Coast Beach, Mombasa on June 15, 2023. [Elvis Ogina ,Standard] A national ocean centre to coordinate efforts to reduce marine accidents and improve safety in the Indian Ocean will be established in Mombasa. The Ocean Centre Kenya will be under the United Nations Global Compact Network in partnership with the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, an independent global safety charity. Dr Nancy Karigithu, special envoy on maritime and blue economy, said this was part of the efforts to break sectoral silos blamed for slow response during marine accidents. Follow The Standard channel…
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta makes an extensive inspection tour of the refurbished Kenya Meat Commission factory and business complex in Athi River, Machakos County. [PSCU, Standard] The Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) plans to open six more outlets in Mombasa and Nairobi as part of its expansion strategy aimed at increasing revenue. KMC Managing Commissioner Maj Gen Gula Jattani said the State agency will open additional branches in Rongai, Syokimau, Thika, and the Nairobi Central Business District. He stated that KMC will also establish two more branches in Mtwapa (Kilifi County) and Likoni (Mombasa County), targeting to raise an additional Sh50…
Gantry cranes at the Kenya Ports Authority container terminal in Mombasa. [File, Standard] The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has received 10 new Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes as part of the ongoing agency’s equipment modernisation programme. The machines are expected to enhance operational efficiency, reducing cargo dwell times and improving vessel turnaround times. “They are capable of lifting up to 45 tonnes signalling KPA’s commitment to promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly port operations,” KPA said in the statement. Follow The Standard channel on WhatsApp The RTGs are expected to complement the existing fleet and equally boost productivity at the berths. With…
A section of Nairobi Inland container depot. The depot is to reduce congestion at the Port of Mombasa.3rd July 2022.[FILE/Standard] Key stakeholders at the Port of Mombasa have lauded the Kenya Ports Authority’s (KPA) notice to remove long-stay containers and condemned cargo from the port premises. Andrew Mwangura, a former secretary-general of the Seafarers Union of Kenya (SUK) and a maritime policy analyst, said the move was long overdue and represents a decisive step towards achieving operational efficiency at the port. “While the 14-day ultimatum issued by managing director Captain William Ruto may seem harsh to some stakeholders, it reflects…
A cargo ship off loads containers at Lamu Port. [File, Standard] At least nine ships are scheduled to dock at the Lamu Port in August, signifying its growing importance in East Africa’s seaborne trade as the region’s small ports struggle with congestion. The facility’s General Manager, Captain Abdulaziz Mzee, said they were scaling up operations as more vessels from across the world have booked their schedules to drop cargo at the port. Among the vessels lined up to dock at Lamu this month are CMA CGM Saigon, Stephanie C, Onego Buran, Lobivia, Myny, CMA-CGM Kailas Derby D and CMA CGM…
President William Ruto during the Commissioning Ceremony of MV UHURU 2 at the Kisumu Shipyard, Kisumu County on October 09, 2023. [Michael Mute, Standard] Maritime experts at the Coast are upbeat about a change in fortunes for the sector in the wake of plans by Kenya Shipyard Ltd (KSL) to build a ferry to cope with rising passenger numbers. The recent groundbreaking ceremony at the Kisumu shipyard on the shores of Lake Victoria by Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and her Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs counterparts Hassan Joho has been hailed as a game-changer in the sector. The two…
A cargo ship off loads containers at Lamu Port. [File, Standard Kenya’s second seaport of Lamu last week received the longest vessel ever to have docked at an East African seaport. The 335 metre-long MV Nagoya Express operated by Hapag-Lloyd specialises in refrigerated cargo, dangerous goods and special cargo projects. It picked up 140 transshipped containers destined for New York. Follow The Standard channel on WhatsApp Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said the cargo picked was earlier discharged in Lamu by MV Tolten, also under Hapag-Lloyd. On February 28, last year, Mombasa port received the then-largest vessel, MSC Kotka, owned and operated…
Tata Chemicals Magadi Managing Director Swaminathan Nagarajan and other board members during the launch of a 10 tons per hour electric calciner, the first of its kind in the global soda ash industry, on July 22, 2025. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard] Tata Chemicals Magadi has announced a significant expansion plan for its soda ash mining activities at Lake Magadi, which aims to increase production to 600,000 tonnes within five years. The firm’s managing director, Swaminathan Nagarajan, said this will increase exports of soda ash through Mombasa. Soda ash is a crucial element of Kenya’s emerging mining economy. The Kenya National Bureau…
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has rolled out the new Electronic Government Procurement (E-GP) system to boost transparency and root out graft in its tendering processes. KPA Managing Director William Ruto said the move aims to streamline procurement procedures, reduce manual processes, and foster greater transparency. He emphasised the importance of embracing technological advancements to enhance transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency. Follow The Standard channel on WhatsApp “The E-GP system is a transformative milestone that aligns us with Kenya’s broader vision for a modern, accountable, and efficient public sector,” he said. The training, facilitated by officials from the National Treasury, is…
Kenyan activist Mwabili Mwagodi at Pandya Hospital, on July 27, 2025. [Philip Mwakio, Standard] Kenyan activist Mwabili Mwagodi was reportedly injected in the head, back, and hands with a syringe by suspected Tanzanian security agents who held him incommunicado for three days in Dar es Salaam. /* Container styling */ .fade-out-overlay { position: absolute; top: -80px; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 60px; z-index: 1; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)); } .paywall-container { position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; padding: 25px; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0,…
Tourists at the Nairobi National Park. [File, Standard] Plans by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to hike park entry fees negate the country’s ambitions to grow the number of international tourists to 5.5 million by 2027, tourism players have said. They noted that the arbitrary increase of fees by the State over the years has affected the country’s global standing as a safari destination. Ms Jackyne Njau, a tourism experience strategist, said wildlife was the country’s superstar in the tourism sector before Kenya even built hotels and resorts. “Wildlife roamed the wild in their plenty across the Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo…
Former Seafarers Union of Kenya General Secretary Andrew Mwangura. [File, Standard] Unregistered agencies are taking over the recruitment of Kenyans seeking jobs aboard international ships, sparking concerns of poor pay and working conditions. Unionists have warned that the situation threatens the integrity of Kenya’s seafaring industry and could affect thousands of Kenyans seeking jobs. It has also emerged that out of 13 manning and crewing agents licensed to recruit Kenyans, only six have verifiable agreements with shipping lines as principals, compounding the problem. “This glaring disparity raises serious questions about regulatory enforcement and the true value these agencies provide to Kenya’s…
Former Seafarers Union of Kenya Secretary General Steve Owaki (left) and young sea cadets during a media briefing in Mombasa where they called on the government to speed up the issuance of seafarers identification documents. [File, Standard] Veteran seafarers and maritime experts have sounded the alarm over the activities of an unregistered firm allegedly recruiting Kenyans to work aboard foreign ships without authorisation. The company, whose officials have reportedly been hosted at a luxury beach resort, has conducted recruitment exercises for over a month without a licence from the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA). Former Seafarers Union of Kenya (SUK) Secretary-General,…
Under water life with different species on display. [Robert Menza, Standard] Sylvan Mghanga holds the artifact of the oldest wooden helm of a ship while he leans forward to peer inside a gigantic aquarium with pictures of a shipwreck and floating fish. He rolls the helm, a steering wheel of a ship, backwards with the skill of a seasoned captain, taking his passengers back to the 15th century’s history of marine life and shipping business at the Kenyan coast. The helm metaphorically represents leadership or control, and the one inside the Maritime Museum gives visitors a sneak peek into the…