NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has defended its Sh8.3 billion port access infrastructure project and a planned Sh400 million helicopter procurement, saying both investments are critical to improving efficiency, safety and competitiveness at the Port of Mombasa.
Speaking amid growing public scrutiny over the cost of the projects, KPA Managing Director Capt. William Ruto said the port access development extends far beyond the construction of a road and involves complex engineering works designed to enhance operations at Kenya’s busiest seaport.
He said the project includes the construction of a 1.8-kilometre expressway linking KPA headquarters to the New Container Terminal, alongside extensive supporting infrastructure.
“It is not a road project alone, it involves a lot of things; it is an expressway from our headquarters to our new container terminal which is 1.7 kilometres. It involves wall retention, cutting and reclamation of the hill in Kipevu,” Capt. Ruto said.
According to him, the road passes close to the Kenya Pipeline Company’s oil terminal and storage facilities, requiring specialised engineering works, including the construction of a 265-metre retaining wall.
He added that the project also involves relocating critical infrastructure such as high-voltage power lines, fibre optic cables and water pipelines before road construction can proceed.
“The road is passing close to the oil terminal and oil storage firms at KPC so you build a 265-metre retention wall, which is not easy. You also have the relocation of the power line which comes into the port, so you cut the hill, relocate the power line, the fibre cable, the water pipelines and the road,” he said.
Capt. Ruto dismissed claims that the project is overpriced, arguing that comparable road projects elsewhere in the country have attracted similar costs despite involving fewer engineering requirements.
“If you do a background check, the other day there was a road launched, about 850 metres at a cost of Sh3.5 billion. Another one, which is just a road only, no drainage, electricity, wall retention or anything, but 400 metres was costing Sh3.5 billion,” he said.
“Ours is 1.8 kilometres and so it is within the market price, if not cheaper, and we are getting value for money as KPA.”
The authority said the project is about 50 per cent complete.
The project’s site engineer said approximately 700 metres of the road will be constructed as an elevated viaduct to allow movement over existing developments within the port area.
“The project involves the construction of 1.8 kilometres of road and out of that, about 700 metres is a viaduct. We are putting a bridge that spans over a vast tract of land that has developments below,” the engineer said.
Separately, Capt. Ruto defended KPA’s planned acquisition of a Sh400 million helicopter, saying the aircraft will strengthen maritime surveillance, improve emergency response capabilities and support port operations.
He said the helicopter forms part of the authority’s broader modernisation strategy aimed at enhancing security, operational efficiency and the long-term competitiveness of the Port of Mombasa.