This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On August 6, 2019, the government indefinitely suspended a directive issued by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) requiring all imported cargo from the Port of Mombasa to be transported by the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
The directive, which was set to be fully implemented on August 7, 2019, was met with strong opposition from stakeholders in the industry, who argued that it was against the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement on trade facilitation.
According to the WTO agreement, countries are allowed to use the most effective means of transporting cargo, and Kenya is a signatory to this agreement.
Following a high-level meeting between KPA, KRA, and the Kenya Railway Authority, the directive was suspended, with KPA's communication manager, Bernard Osero, confirming the suspension.
