Mombasa Port ranks 375th in the World Bank’s 2024 container port assessment.
The World Bank flags congestion, clearance delays and management instability as Mombasa drops to 375th among 403 ports.
The Mombasa Port ranking fell 49 places in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index, placing it among the lowest-ranked globally. The port ranked 375th out of 403 in the 2024 assessment, compared with 326th among 348 in 2022.
The World Bank detailed the decline in its November 2026 Kenya Economic Update, published on Wednesday, November 4. It identified congestion, administrative delays and repeated cargo inspections as obstacles at East Africa’s largest port.
Businesses also face recurring system outages and higher fees, increasing the cost of moving goods through the facility. The lender warned that these problems create uncertainty, limit business opportunities and weaken Kenyan firms’ competitiveness.
Mombasa Port ranking highlights management concerns
The World Bank linked operational problems to leadership instability at the Kenya Ports Authority. KPA has had five managing directors over the past decade, including two acting heads between 2020 and 2023.
It also said leadership changes and rent-seeking had slowed upgrades and efforts to improve efficiency. These issues raised concerns about the state-owned authority’s long-term management.
Meanwhile, the lender questioned the licensing and management of private Container Freight Stations around Mombasa. It said connections, rather than competition, had influenced some operations, increasing risks of collusion, mismanagement and corruption.
The report also documented bribery allegations involving officials handling cargo clearance. Businesses alleged that officials from different government agencies demanded illicit payments to clear their goods.
Transport costs and planned reforms
Shipping a 20-foot container from China to Mombasa costs about Ksh260,000, or USD2,000. Moving it onward to Nairobi adds Ksh110,500 to Ksh162,500, equivalent to USD850 to USD1,250.
For the 480-kilometre inland journey, the World Bank estimated costs of Ksh230 to Ksh338 per kilometre. By comparison, an equivalent journey in Europe costs about Ksh195 per kilometre.
To address transport inefficiencies, the government is implementing the 2026 Roadblock Reduction Initiative along the Mombasa-Malaba route. The programme targets a maximum of five gazetted stops, down from between 22 and 27 police checkpoints.
It also aims to shorten travel time from 80 hours to between 36 and 40 hours. Separately, President William Ruto announced on Wednesday that the government was ready to unveil plans to expand Mombasa Port.
