The refurbished Port of Kisumu is scheduled to open in October, media reports said. The Port of Kisumu is worth Sh3 billion. Last year, the port handled more than 62 percent cargo on the back of enhanced efficiency and increase in trade.
The Kenyan government is on a mission to restore the East African country’s strong performance with renovation of ports to enhance trade. The port’s renovation would make it possible for bigger vessels to dock. This further implies that trade with neighboring countries will become more pronounced.
It is reported that the port is important to Kenya for trade especially with neighbouring countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Last year, the number of vessels in the port increased to 41 percent compared to 19 percent in the previous year, pointing to a rise of 116 percent.
The opening of the Port of Kisumu is delayed because of the protracted coronavirus pandemic. A report published by the African Development Bank found that Kenya was among many countries demonstrating ‘already weakening debt-affordability metrics (measures looking at the ratio of interest paid on debt to revenue) from falling revenue’. The refurbished Port of Kisumu is anticipated to uplift the country’s trade in the coming years.