The Kisumu port has begun handling shipments of coal from Tanzania, boosting its drive to grow business.

Patrick Makau, the manager in charge of cargo services at the Kisumu port, said that the coal business is expected to grow with suppliers in Songea, Tanzania, indicating interest.

Songea is a hub for coal mining in Tanzania.

Mr Makau said negotiations were that are at advanced stages between Tanzanian exporters and their newfound clients in West Pokot, to open a fresh commercial corridor for manufacturers in western Kenya.

“The development is expected to diversify Kisumu’s cargo mix beyond its petroleum-heavy portfolio,” said Mr Makau.

According to the official, last week a ship with a consignment of 1,200 tonnes of industrial coal docked at the port from Mwanza, Tanzania.

“This is a pivotal moment for lake transport. Kisumu is becoming the gateway of choice because the lake offers clear efficiency and cost advantages. The momentum is strong, and we are preparing for larger volumes ahead,” Mr Makau said.

Petroleum exports remain the backbone of Kisumu port’s operations, supported by twice-weekly tanker voyages to Uganda.

MV Uhuru II regularly delivers fuel to Port Bell and Jinja. The export has since increased with the deployment of MV Mpungu, a vessel able to carry 1,000 tonnes, alongside several smaller crafts.

Kisumu port, which is a critical hub for trade with the neighbouring countries such as Tanzania and Uganda, and by extension Rwanda and Burundi, as well as those in the Great Lakes Region, has undergone major upgrades since 2019.

The upgrade has included concreting the port yard, construction of the quayside, repairs of the linkspan, revamping the dry dock, and rehabilitation of all buildings to boost efficiency.

The upgraded facilities have improved the performance of the Kisumu port, which had for close to three decades been hit by several factors, including a dilapidated railway infrastructure and impassable and persistent invasion of water hyacinth as well as boundary disputes that have turned the freshwater lake into a liability.

Mr Makau projects that the Kisumu port will handle 700,000 tonnes of cargo this year.

“Beyond cargo, the port is on the verge of reintroducing passenger water transport across the lake between towns, as plans are underway to construct a dedicated passenger terminal,” he said.

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