Business slow at port as truckers stay away

 

Containers pilling up at the Mombasa port.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY CHARLES MGHENYI
Truck operators at the Mombasa port yesterday kept away despite raising concerns of cargo pile up.
KPA head of corporate affairs Bernard Osero said normal business operations of loading and offloading of cargo went on as usual but no single truck entered the port yesterday.
Speaking to the Star, Osero said in other public holidays business at the port of Mombasa always goes on as usual but yesterday many truck owners were afraid to operate.
 “At the port business always goes on even on holidays but today many truck owners have shied away because of the tension during the election period,” he said.
He said there were three ships at the terminal loading and offloading imports and exports but the cargoes would have to wait until the trucks start operating.
“There is uncertainty and the violence erupting so many people do not want to take the risk and have decided to wait until the elections are over,” he added.
 He added that over the last week the delivery rate at the port towards the weekend was high and this showed that business men were in a rush to clear all the cargo before the election day.
 Osero said on Thursday 1,226 twenty feet equivalent units were delivered, Friday 1,233, Saturday 1192 and Sunday 588 units left the port.
He said from Thursday to Saturday the delivery rate was high but on Sunday it fell to five hundred and this could be due to security concerns during the election day.
Osero added that on normal business days 800-1,000 containers leave the port but from Thursday to Saturday the delivery was way above this.
The security at the port was beefed up and no major incidents in and around the port were reported.
Meanwhile, many shops and supermarkets in Mombasa central business district remained closed for the better part of the day.
A spot check by the Star showed that the town was deserted with the three major supermarkets along Digo road were all closed. Major shopping malls also remained closed.
Tuskys, A-one and Budget supermarkets remained closed the whole day and all other shops in town remained closed with only a few people in town.
Matatus on the Mtwapa-Town route raised fairs their fares because of the shortage of vehicles.
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-110547/business-slow-port-truckers-stay-away