The government is set to expand the port of Mombasa at a cost of Ksh.41 billion, with construction expected to start this December, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced.
Mombasa Port expansion project factsheet
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Project Overview: The Government of Kenya is expanding Mombasa Port at a cost of Ksh.41 billion ($317 million), with construction expected to start in December 2025.
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Objective: The expansion aims to increase port capacity, improve efficiency, and strengthen its role as a critical trade gateway for Kenya and the wider East and Central African region.
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Cargo Growth: Container traffic at Mombasa Port has risen from 1.4 million to 2 million TEUs over the past three years, prompting the expansion.
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Infrastructure Upgrades: Key upgrades include dredging to 15 meters for larger vessels, berth modernisation (Berths 11-14 and 16-18), and enhanced rail connectivity through the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Nairobi’s Inland Container Depot.
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Efficiency Gains: Expansion efforts are expected to reduce congestion, shorten ship waiting times, and boost overall productivity, ensuring the port remains competitive regionally.
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Economic Impact: The project will support trade facilitation, job creation, and economic growth in Mombasa, coastal counties, and the wider East African region.
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Complementary Infrastructure: Road upgrades, including Nyali Bridge-Mtwapa-Kilifi highway, Changamwe-Jomvu-Mazeras-Mariakani Road dualling, and Dongo Kundu Bypass, will improve connectivity and ease traffic.
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Housing and Social Projects: Mombasa County benefits from affordable housing projects (Nyali Phase 1: 2,000 units, Phase 2: 83 units) and fishery infrastructure (Kidongo Fish Landing Site, Likoni Fish Market, Tuna Fish Hub, Liwatoni Fish Port).
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Blue Economy & Social Welfare: The government is investing in fisheries development and has allocated Ksh.2 billion to resolve longstanding squatter issues. Mombasa leads in SHA enrolment, with 900,000 residents covered.
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Strategic Context: The port expansion forms part of a broader plan, including Kenya’s rail network expansion (Naivasha–Malaba via Kisumu) and the LAPSSET corridor, positioning Mombasa as a key regional logistics hub.
Speaking during an economic empowerment event in Nyali, Mombasa County, the DP said the expansion is necessary to cope with the rising volume of cargo handled at the port. In the past three years, the number of containers received has grown from 1.4 million to 2 million.
“The President restored smooth port operations as soon as he took office. Now it is time to expand the port, and he will personally launch the project,” Prof. Kindiki said. He added that the government aims to make the port more efficient and capable of handling increased operations, underlining its importance to the country’s economy.
The port project is part of a wider development plan for Mombasa and the other coastal counties. This includes upgrading the Nyali Bridge-Mtwapa-Kilifi highway, dualling the Changamwe-Jomvu-Mazeras-Mariakani Road, and completing the Dongo Kundu Bypass, which will ease traffic in the city and surrounding areas.
Prof. Kindiki noted that the current administration has prioritised the coastal region, unlike previous governments that left promises unfulfilled.
Mombasa County is also benefiting from affordable housing initiatives. The Nyali Phase 1 Housing Project has received Ksh.6 billion for 2,000 units, while Phase 2 has Ksh.1 billion allocated for 83 units. Meanwhile, the government is fast-tracking the completion of key fishery projects, including the Kidongo Fish Landing Site, Likoni Fish Market, Tuna Fish Hub, and Liwatoni Fish Port, with investments totalling billions of shillings.
“The President is the first to invest heavily in the blue economy. We want to grow the fishing sector to support the people of Mombasa and the wider coastal region,” Prof. Kindiki said.
The DP also assured residents that the government is committed to resolving longstanding squatter issues, having allocated Ksh.2 billion for this purpose. He further commended Mombasa County for leading in SHA registration, with 900,000 out of 1.1 million residents now enrolled under the universal health cover.
Kenya Earmarks $317 Million for Mombasa Port Expansion
Reported in September 2025 – President William Ruto has made an announcement revealing that the government will inject an additional $317 million (Ksh41 billion) into the Mombasa Port Expansion Project.
Speaking on September 17 during the commissioning of the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service, Ruto stated the project will be completed by the end of this year.
Goal: The main objective of the ongoing projects is to enhance the port’s capacity, improve efficiency, and solidify its status as a critical trade gateway for Kenya and the wider East and Central African region.
Key Strategy: The government is pursuing a blend of infrastructure upgrades, technology modernization, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to drive port development.
Other infrastructure upgrades:
- Dredging: The port has undergone capital dredging to deepen its channel to 15 meters, allowing access for larger “Post-Panamax” vessels.
- Berth upgrades: Plans are in place to upgrade existing berths (e.g., Berths 11-14 and 16-18) to modern multipurpose terminals.
- Rail connectivity: The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connecting Mombasa to Nairobi plays a crucial role in the port’s efficiency, providing a direct and high-capacity link for cargo to the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Nairobi.
Operational impact:
- Increased throughput: The various expansion projects have led to a significant increase in both annual cargo throughput (millions of tons) and container traffic (TEUs). The port surpassed 2 million TEUs for the first time in 2024.
- Efficiency: The upgrades aim to reduce congestion, decrease ship waiting times, and improve overall port productivity, strengthening its competitiveness against other regional ports.
- Economic development: The expansion supports economic growth in Kenya and the wider East African region by facilitating trade and creating job opportunities.
“The government has committed a total of Ksh41 billion to expand the Port of Mombasa. This will make it more efficient, bigger, and better,” President Ruto stated.
Government to Allocate Resources for Roads in Mombasa County
Additionally, the President added that the government will earmark resources to complete road projects in Mombasa County.
The President also highlighted the significance of the newly launched commuter rail link between the Mombasa central business district (CBD) and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) terminus in Miritini.
He described the railway service as timely, by saying that it addresses the long-standing challenges of traffic congestion, delays, and unreliable road transport in the coastal city.
Lastly, in the bigger picture, Ruto revealed that the project is part of the government’s ambitious strategy to expand Kenya’s rail network from Naivasha to Malaba through Kisumu, and across the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor.
