KPA says it values the long-standing partnership with Rwanda.
by Blue Africa News
The government of Rwanda has announced it will increase cargo delivery through Kenya’s Port of Mombasa, citing efficiency and reliability of the East African nation’s transit corridors.
“Kenya remains our strategic ally in regional trade. We will endeavor to sustain this mutual bilateral relationship between our two countries for broader regional development,” said Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ernest Rwanucyo, according to a statement released by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
Speaking during a meeting with KPA management on August 14, 2025, the High Commissioner highlighted the critical role of Kenya’s Inland Container Depot (ICD) and transport network in facilitating regional trade.
“I urge all cargo agents to utilize Mombasa in handling Kigali-bound goods” the statement quoted him as saying.
KPA’s General Manager for Cargo Operations, Sudi Mwasinago, said the enterprise values the long-standing partnership with Rwanda, with the new announcement expected to deepen the country’s economic ties.
“We value the partnership and confidence that has seen a tremendous increase in transit cargo. We will forge ahead to make the port even more efficient and further deepen our economic ties,” he said.
During a recent engagement with a delegation from Etihad Rail and the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) which centered around strategic cooperation and learning best practices in freight rail infrastructure development, Mwasinago said investment in upgrading KPA’s operating systems and acquiring modern equipment, has improved efficiency.
As a landlocked country, Rwanda uses the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania as the primary routes for both of its imports and exports.
The Mombasa route, according to the University of Pennsylvania’s African Studies Center, already carries more than 70% of Rwanda’s imports and about 80% of its exports.
Rwanda’s main exports are agricultural products like coffee and tea, alongside minerals such as gold, tin and niobium, with United Aran Emirates (UAE), China, India and the United Kingdom (UK) ranking as the nation’s top export destinations.
On the other hand, imports include refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, food items and manufactured goods.
In 2022, China, Kenya, Tanzania, India and the UAE were ranked among the top countries for Rwanda’s imports.
In June 2024 during a joint meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, the private sector in Rwanda commended KPA’s efforts in facilitating the ease of doing business.
KPA Managing Director Capt. William Ruto noted that in 2023, the Port of Mombasa handled 520,201 metric tons of Rwanda-bound cargo, compared to 429,857 metric tons recorded in 2022, representing a 21% increase.
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News