EACC has launched an examination of Kenya Ports Authority systems in Mombasa.
The anti-corruption commission will examine port systems and recommend stronger controls after a World Bank report flagged operational problems.
The EACC KPA review has begun in Mombasa, targeting weaknesses that could expose port operations to corruption. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission will examine the Kenya Ports Authority’s systems, policies, procedures and practices.
The commission expects to recommend corrective measures to close loopholes and strengthen internal controls. The exercise comes days after a World Bank report raised concerns about Mombasa Port’s efficiency.
EACC KPA review focuses on prevention
Speaking at the launch at KPA headquarters, EACC Commissioner John Ogallo highlighted the port’s importance to regional trade. It connects Kenya and neighbouring countries with international markets.
He also linked efficient, ethical port operations to cargo movement, business costs, regional competitiveness and economic growth. Ogallo said transparent and reliable systems could support legitimate trade while protecting public revenue and building investor confidence.
KPA welcomed the examination through Corporation Secretary and General Manager for Board and Legal Services John Turasha Kinyanjui. He represented the authority’s chief executive, Captain William Ruto, at the launch.
Kinyanjui said the exercise would help improve internal controls and encourage ethical conduct. He also urged the authority to place integrity at the centre of its decisions and daily operations. KPA manages critical national infrastructure and facilitates international trade.
The examination forms part of EACC’s preventive approach to tackling corruption. Rather than concentrating only on offences after they occur, the commission seeks to identify weaknesses and recommend reforms before exploitation.
World Bank flags delays and clearance concerns
Meanwhile, the World Bank’s assessment highlighted a decline in Mombasa Port’s global performance ranking. The port fell 49 places in the Container Port Performance Index, from 326 in 2022 to 375 in 2024.
In its November 2026 Kenya Economic Update, the lender identified congestion and administrative delays among challenges facing port users. It also cited repeated cargo inspections, recurring system downtime and rising charges.
The report recorded allegations of bribery involving officials from government agencies handling cargo clearance. Some businesses claimed officials demanded illicit payments to facilitate the release of their goods.
The World Bank also linked the port’s difficulties to instability in KPA’s management. The authority had five managing directors over the past decade, including two acting directors between 2020 and 2023.
