Local transporters have raised concerns over the newly introduced parking fees at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in Mombasa.
Paul Moiben, the Chairperson of the Local Transporters (Road Hauliers) Association, led a protest outside the KPA gates on Tuesday, February 4,2025, denouncing the Mombasa County Government’s decision to charge Sh700 as parking fees for trucks and trailers entering the port.
According to Moiben, the decision to impose the charges without prior consultation has left many transporters grappling with additional operational costs.
The fee, which he described as both “unexpected” and “unfair,” has raised alarms among road hauliers, who argue that it undermines the competitiveness of their businesses.
“We were not informed or consulted about these fees,” Moiben said during the briefing.
“The Mombasa County Government has imposed this charge with no prior warning, and it is directly impacting our operations, forcing us to spend more money on unnecessary costs. This is not just a financial burden, but also a threat to the survival of many businesses in this sector.”
Transporters, who rely heavily on the Mombasa port for their trade, are now worried that the new parking fee will increase the overall cost of doing business and eventually affect the price of goods being delivered across the country.
The situation has stirred frustration within the local hauliers’ community, many of whom claim the sudden imposition of such fees reflects a lack of communication and collaboration between the County Government and local businesses.
Moiben further emphasized that while local transporters are open to paying reasonable fees for services rendered, the abrupt nature of this charge—without proper notice—has created unnecessary hardships.
“If this is to be a fair system, we ask that the county government engage with us to understand the challenges we face and to come up with a sustainable solution,” he said.
The protest outside the KPA gates attracted numerous hauliers, some of whom temporarily parked their trucks to show solidarity with the cause.
As the transporters’ demonstration continued, they called for a dialogue between the Mombasa County Government, KPA, and the local transporters’ association to address the concerns and avoid further tensions.
The Mombasa County Government has yet to issue an official response to the protest or to clarify the rationale behind the sudden introduction of the Sh700 parking fee.
However, as the situation continues to unfold, both parties are expected to engage in further discussions to resolve the impasse.
As local transporters wait for a resolution, the future of trade and transportation in Mombasa remains uncertain, with many urging for better communication and understanding to ensure that business operations continue smoothly at one of East Africa’sbusiest ports.
