Murkomen to Ole Kina: 'Mambo ya Port ni kama hauelewi'

By Peter Ochieng

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen has hit out at Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, stating that the legislature does not understand anything about Port operations.

Senator Ole Kina had posted a video on his X (formerly Twitter) page showing congestion of cargo ships and containers at the Port of Dar, in Tanzania.

"Mr @WilliamsRuto have you seen the ship traffic in Dar Salaam? What is your advisor @DavidNdii telling you about it? This used to be Kenya when we had good leadership at the top! Remember that?" wrote the vocal Senator in a message addressed to president William Ruto.

To the Senator, congestion is a sign of good business.

However, in schooling Ole Kina, Murkomen said congestion was in fact a sign of bad business, adding that the Mombasa Port in Kenya was doing better.

"Bro nikama mambo ya Port huelewi kama ile ya Barabara (Bro, it seems you don't understand Port issues just like roads). For your information congestion is a sign of inefficiency. Our container turnaround time is 2 days when our neighbors take 38 days," responded the Murkomen.

The former Elgeyo Marakwet Senator added that with more investments, things are bound to get much better at the Port of Mombasa.

"We are one of the most efficient Ports in the continent. With our planned investments including Public Private Partnership (PPP), we shall be far ahead in facilitating regional trade and creating more jobs for our people. On a light note I have realized you are focusing on my ministry a lot which is welcomed."

According to an online real-time port congestion portal, Dar es salaam has recorded 16 days of ship waiting time; Djibouti five days, while Mombasa has recorded highest port turn-around time of one day.

The CS said he is very proud of the work they are doing at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).

He congratulated the KPA board and management together with his team for the investment they have made, which are bearing fruit.