Kenya Maritime Authority, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service clash over container inspection levies
KEPHIS Chairman Joseph M’Eruaki maintained that the charges are part of its constitutional duty and warned that removing them would compromise national efforts to safeguard agriculture and trade from invasive pests and diseases.
The standoff between the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) has deepened after the former announced that it would continue charging inspection fees on vessels and containers at the Port of Mombasa, despite a directive to halt the levy.
Speaking at the Kenya School of Government in Mombasa, KEPHIS Chairman Joseph M’Eruaki maintained that the charges are part of its constitutional duty and warned that removing them would compromise national efforts to safeguard agriculture and trade from invasive pests and diseases.
More To Read
- Kenya elected chair of Djibouti code of conduct working group
- Kenya pledges commitment to regional cooperation in maritime security
- KMA bars unlicensed recruitment of Kenyan seafarers
- Ship agents oppose KEPHIS pest inspection charges on shipping lines
- Audit exposes confusion over control of Sh5 billion Lamu Port
- Kilifi fishermen get new rescue boat to boost maritime safety
KEPHIS introduced the fees on March 1 this year for the inspection of ships and containers at Mombasa port and border points. Each vessel is charged a flat Sh2,000 inspection fee, Sh375 per container and Sh2,000 for cleaning.
“No government agency is superior to the other. That is why we are engaging other stakeholders. Let other agencies stick to their lane. Let them cooperate because that is what is going to protect agriculture,” M’Eruaki said.
The directive from KMA, issued by Director General Omae Nyarandi in a letter dated August 12 to Kephis Managing Director Prof. Theophilus Mutui, instructed that no export container should be held over non-payment of inspection fees. Nyarandi also asked Kephis to furnish evidence of adequate public participation before imposing the container and vessel inspection charges.
Nyarandi said pending arrears would be addressed in an upcoming meeting.
“Exports are critical to the Kenyan economy, and government agencies are obliged to intervene and provide the way forward on any operational undertaking that is likely to hamper the seamless flow of the exports in the logistics chain,” he said.
He further instructed shipping lines not to introduce any inspection charges, noting that the cost is already covered under the container cleaning fee.
But M'eruaki has decried that the illegal fake seed trade has been a thorn in the flesh for farmers and the government, but expressed optimism that soon it will come to an end.
He has now urged farmers to ensure they purchase seeds from agrovet shops that are licensed by Kephis and ensure the packaging materials have a Kephis emblem and sticker.
“A farmer is supposed to scratch the sticker to reveal a code, which when sent to 1393 will give feedback to indicate whether the seeds are real or fake,” M’eruaki said.
Top Stories Today
