Businessmen protest extra cargo charges at Mombasa

Landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi relying on the Mombasa port to import their goods have to part with more money.

Truck drivers plying the Rwanda-Kenya route have protested new clearing charges levied at Mombasa port, arguing it is illegal.

Some of the drivers yesterday told The New Times that the new charges were raised last Tuesday after the March 4 Kenya general elections.
The situation is likely to disrupt cargo transportation within the region.
In the run up to the elections, the traders had suspended movement to Kenya for fear that violence could flare up and wrong elements would target trucks bearing foreign number plates.

Mr Aboudoul Ndaruhogeye, one of the traders, said since they resumed operations last Tuesday, clearing agents are asking traders to pay extra money for their cargo without justification; an issue he says has forced some truck drivers to use illegal routes.

Mr Ndaruhogeye said the agents are charging them Ksh3,500 (Shs108,500) per truck up from Ksh1,000 (Shs31,000). He said the charges apply to trucks from Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and DRC.

“My 12 export trucks were clamped until I paid Ksh48,000 without any justification document,” he said.

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