Uhuru Gifts Rwanda Land in Naivasha to Build Dry Port for its Cargo

President Kenyatta has given Rwanda a parcel of land in Naivasha to build a dry port for its cargo, according to reports.

The move is aimed at easing transportation of goods from the Mombasa seaport to Kigali as well as reduce the cost of ferrying cargo between Kenya and Rwanda, a landlocked country.

Speaking to The New Times, Rwanda's Foreign Affairs Minister Vincent Biruta said his country was keen to cut back logistical expenses and address challenges of delayed cargo clearance prompted by congestion and subsequent backlog. 

A team drawn from Rwanda's High Commission in Kenya recently toured the Naivasha Inland Container Depot to assess the ongoing works.

"The Rwandan government is in consultation with the private sector to establish ways to make the most of the dry port," Biruta said. 

Rwanda’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Charge of East African Community Manasseh Nshuti said transportation of cargo Naivasha to Kigali will be easier with the construction of the inland port.

“Naivasha to Mombasa is 560km. Goods will use rail reducing road transport which is more expensive and time-consuming. We also have two options, Naivasha to Kigali by road, or we can use Naivasha to Kisumu via road which is about 200 km, then barges from Kisumu to Port Bell in Uganda. By sea it will be cheaper,” Nshuti quipped.

Uganda was also offered land in Naivasha to build a similar port during President Yoweri Museveni’s state visit to Kenya in March last year.