The Council of Governors has confirmed the suspension of Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) charges at the Port of Mombasa following concerns raised by the County Government of Mombasa and key industry stakeholders.
In a letter addressed to Kenya Ships Agents Association (KSAA) Chief Executive Officer Elijah Mbaru, Mombasa County Chief of Staff Dr. Noah Akala stated that the suspension follows a consultative meeting held on March 14 at the Council of Governors’ offices.
“The meeting resolved that, in the interest of cooperation and efficiency in port operations, the County Government of Mombasa will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KEPHIS to define a structured approach to container and vessel inspections within the respective mandates of each entity,” Akala wrote in a letter dated 17th March 2025.
The announcement comes after KSAA and other stakeholders raised concerns over the introduction of new inspection charges by KEPHIS, arguing that the levies would increase the cost of doing business at the port.
KEPHIS, the government agency responsible for ensuring agricultural input and produce quality, had announced new inspection fees for vessels and containers entering or exiting Kenya. The charges included KSh 2,000 for vessels over 10,000 tonnes, KSh 1,000 for smaller vessels, KSh 500 for 40-foot containers, and KSh 250 for 20-foot containers. The implementation was set to begin on March 1, 2025, based on the bill of lading date.
In a letter dated March 7 to Kenya Maritime Authority’s acting Director General, Mr. Isaia Aregai, KSAA expressed its opposition to the charges, stating they would create unnecessary financial and administrative burdens.
“We were perplexed by the sudden introduction of these charges by KEPHIS, which not only deter business activity but also hinder seamless cargo operations at the Port of Mombasa,” Elijah Mbaru KSAA Designate CEO, wrote.
The association further argued that the new levies would make the port less competitive, as costs would inevitably be passed on to exporters and importers.
Industry players have also pointed out that KEPHIS inspections appear to duplicate the roles of other government agencies already conducting similar activities. According to KSAA, port health authorities handle cleanliness matters, while the Kenya Maritime Authority oversees ship inspections and regulatory requirements.
The association has recommended that government agencies boarding vessels should not impose additional charges and that cargo with certificates of conformity from the port of origin should not be subjected to further inspections.
“If KEPHIS must conduct inspections in Kenya, they should do so without billing anyone, as other government agencies currently do,” the KSAA letter read.
The suspension of the charges has been welcomed by stakeholders, who have emphasized the need for better coordination among government agencies to prevent unnecessary financial burdens on businesses, the majority of which are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Mr. Elias Baluku, Executive Director of the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA), applauded the decision and urged KEPHIS and other government agencies to consider the region’s economic challenges, particularly the rising cost of doing business across the East African Community.
“The proposed additional charges on shipping lines will inevitably be passed down to freight forwarders, further driving up the cost of imports and exports in Kenya and across the East African Community. This will place an even heavier strain on businesses already facing economic hardship,” said Baluku.
Stakeholders affected by the issue have been encouraged to report any related incidents to the Office of the Governor through Ms. Joan Njoroge.
With the new MoU in the works, industry players will be watching closely to see how KEPHIS aligns its inspections with other regulatory bodies to ensure efficiency at the port.
This article was published by Githua Kihara, an editorial consultant for FEAFFA’s Freight Logistics Magazine. For any inquiries, please contact us via email at editorial@feaffa.com or freightlogistics@feaffa.com, or reach out to Andrew Onionga directly at onionga@feaffa.com / +254733780240.
