Uhuru to commission new KPA berth after swearing in

Transport Minister Amos Kimunya and President elect  Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy president-elect William Ruto

Tuesday, April 2, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY CHARLES MGHENYI
COMMISSIONING of the new berth number 19 at the Mombasa port will take place immediately the new government is sworn in.
KPA head of corporate affairs Bernard Osero said they could not have set the date for the ceremony earlier due the Cord petition against Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential election victory.
He said: “We could not have given out the dates and we all know that then president is the one who is mandated with occasions that touch the economy of the country.”
Speaking to the Star on phone, Osero said the commissioning plans are underway and the port management is awaiting directives from the new government on the day of the event.
“We have been testing the berth from mid March. We are waiting for the new government set up before the commissioning takes place,” he said.
The port management said they are optimistic the event will be held this month to ensure the berth becomes fully operational.The commissioning of the new berth may be the first State event for Uhuru, who toured the port a week after IEBC declared him president-elect.
He pledged to create a free port and allayed fears that the facility will be privatised.Berth 19 is expected to have annual handling capacity of 200,000 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) and will be a major boost to the economy.
The berth will ensure the expansion of the ship quay area at the container terminal to 840 metres as the container staking yard will increase by about 15 acres.
The new berth has been under construction since July 2011

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-114900/uhuru-commission-new-kpa-berth-after-swearing