State orders regional cargo to be collected at Naivasha ICD
National
By
Anthony Gitonga
| Feb 08, 2026
Kenya Railways and KPA officials transfer cargo at the Naivasha ICD. [File, Standard]
Cargo destined for neighbouring countries will now be collected at the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD) in a move aimed at de-congesting the Port of Mombasa.
According to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Mombasa port has, in the last couple of years, recorded increased cargo volumes, leading to delays in clearance and haulage.
The move is set to spur operations at the Naivasha ICD, which has a capacity of 4,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) but is currently operating at a partial 19 per cent occupation rate.
KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga said the Naivasha ICD would come in handy mainly for cargo destined for Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
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Wattanga said the move aims to create efficiencies in cargo clearance by reducing time and cost while facilitating more cargo haulage through the Northern Corridor, a key artery to other regions.
He said KRA customs revenues from port activities accounted for a third of the global Sh2.9 trillion cargo handling business, which earned the country close to Sh900 billion by the end of 2025.
"The port of Mombasa has experienced a major congestion due to increased volumes received as the key players turned to Kenya for fears of post-election violence in Tanzania and the recent elections in Uganda," said Wattanga.
Speaking in Mai Mahiu ICD centre during a tour by South Sudan officials, the Commissioner welcomed the move by the Government of South Sudan to operationalise their allocated 10 acres for alternative cargo clearance and haulage.
Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority William Kuol said his government would start operations at the 10-acre land in the next five months.
Kuol said the move aims to enhance efficiency in cargo haulage to South Sudan, owing to months-long delays at the port of Mombasa, which resulted in reduced volumes.
"The Naivasha ICD will provide the Government of South Sudan with efficient and timely clearance and haulage of cargo from the Port of Mombasa by addressing the long-standing delays," said Kuol.
Special Economic Zone Authority Chief Executive Kenneth Chelule said the government had allocated 6,000 acres to the zone to accommodate the growing list of investors, which has now hit 20 investors.
He said the State allocated 10 acres each to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC Congo and South Sudan to establish their alternative cargo clearance stations through the standard gauge railway and metre gauge railway linkage.
Chelule said the State agency had received funding to complete key infrastructures such as road networks and power connections to enhance operations at the industrial park.
"Following South Sudan's move to start their operations at the zone, Burundi and Uganda are in the pipeline, a move that will spur activities, enhance cargo clearance, boost trade and address congestion at the Port of Mombasa," said Chelule.
According to the ICD Operations Manager, Ahmad Toya, the depot, which can handle up to 4,000 TUEs, is currently underutilised at only 19 per cent capacity.
Toyo said the move by South Sudan and other neighbouring countries would enhance their haulage capacity and clearance rate, compared with the port of Mombasa, which experiences regular congestion.