The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has begun implementing revised tariffs at Mombasa and Lamu ports, after the Container Freight Station Association withdrew its court case.In a reminder notice to customers, the KPA stated that, in line with the authority’s Act, Cap 391 of 1978, the Tariff Book 2025 rates would take effect on December 22. “This is in addition to our previous notice, issued in September 2025, regarding the publication and commencement of the revised tariff for services provided by the authority. Following the delivery of judgement in court case Mombasa HCJR/E023/2025, the authority hereby notifies all customers and stakeholders that KPA Tariff 2025 has been published and will take effect on December 22, 2025,” stated KPA managing director William Ruto in the notice. Mr Ruto informed shipping lines that vessels arriving at the ports of Mombasa and Lamu after 00:01 on December 22 shall pay port dues and stevedoring charges in compliance with the new tariff.“To ensure a smooth transition, cargo owners and agents who lodge pick-up orders, pre-advice notices or requests for additional cargo services at the ports or inland container depots after midnight on December 22 shall pay charges in compliance with the new tariff,” Mr Ruto said.The authority released the contested Tariff Book 2025 in August, intending it to replace the rates that had been in place since 2012. The new tariffs were scheduled to take effect on September 15. However, the Container Freight Station Association opposed the new Tariff Book and took the matter to court. A few weeks ago, the association withdrew the case after agreeing to resolve the pending issues out of court. In the case, the freight station lobby had asked the court to nullify Clause 15.5 of Tariff Book 2025, claiming it was discriminatory. The association also opposed the introduction of shore handling charges on CFS cargo, higher stevedoring and wharfage rates, and the new “dirty cargo surcharge”.The association contended that Clause 15.5 of the 2025 Tariff Book unfairly grants preferential tariffs to inland container depots at the expense of CFSs, despite both being designated customs areas under the East African Community Customs Management Act.Subsequently, KPA and the CFS association opted for an out-of-court settlement.The introduction of the new charges by the port operator could cause commodity prices to rise significantly. The revised rates replace the 2012 tariffs for marine services, ship dues, stevedoring services, shore handling, wharfage, storage services and general services. Among the adjustments, trucking fees at the port of Mombasa were raised from Sh3,000 to Sh15,000, while clearing and forwarding agents were introduced to a new annual licence fee of Sh38,772. Wharfage is a levy charged on goods passing through a port to cover the use of port facilities. Transporters and clearing and forwarding agents had also protested the increments and the introduction of new charges, arguing that they contravened the KPA Act. Kenya Transporters Association chairman Newton Wang’oo said increasing truck port charges by more than 400 percent was unjustifiable and against their recommendations. (ICE NAIROBI)

Fonte notizia: The EastAfrican