At least seven additional port-linked facilities are set to be opened up to private investors as the National Treasury expands its public-private partnership (PPP) pipeline covering Kenya Ports Authority assets.
According to the Treasury, the move is aimed at bundling interconnected port infrastructure into a single investment portfolio in order to improve efficiency and attract financing.
The National Treasury has already begun the process of hiring an advisor to guide the expanded PPP programme, which now includes a wider range of port and inland logistics facilities.
The additional assets proposed for inclusion in the expanded portfolio include the Mombasa Port Container Terminal II (berths 20–22), Mombasa Port Container Terminal (berths 23–24), Mombasa Port Cargo Terminal – Mbaraki wharfs, Mombasa Port Cargo Terminal (berths 1–5), Mombasa Port Cargo Terminal (berths 7–10), Inland Container Depot Nairobi (Embakasi), and Inland Container Depot Naivasha.
“These assets are operationally interconnected and may share common infrastructure and interfaces, including yards, access channels, terminal support facilities, and landside logistics systems,” the Treasury said.
“Consequently, decisions taken in relation to one asset have material implications for the performance, efficiency, and bankability of the other assets within the portfolio,”
Initially, the Treasury had listed four Kenya Ports Authority assets for private investment under the PPP model. These include Lamu Port Container Terminal (berths 1–3), Mombasa Port (berths 11–14), Mombasa Port Container Terminal I (berths 16–19), and the Lamu Special Economic Zone.
“Given the scale of the assets, their shared demand drivers, and the strategic objective of transitioning to a landlord port model, it is necessary that these assets are assessed and structured under the PPP framework on a portfolio basis, rather than through fragmented, asset-by-asset transactions,” the Treasury said.
The expansion comes weeks after the Kenya Ports Authority began seeking an investor to operate the Shimoni Fish Port under a landlord-model PPP arrangement, a move that could pave the way for leasing parts of operations at Mombasa and Lamu ports.
“In 2018, a feasibility study was undertaken for Shimoni fish port, which recommended the development and operations of the port under the PPP landlord model. In view of this, construction of the port commenced in October 2022 and was completed in June 2025,” KPA said.
“Shimoni port is one of the projects identified under the Kenya Vision 2030 to support the exploitation of the blue economy resources for accelerated socio-economic development.”
Under the landlord PPP model, the public sector retains ownership of land and core infrastructure while leasing operations to a private investor responsible for financing, constructing, and running the facility.
KPA said the private operator of Shimoni Port will be required to acquire cargo-handling and ICT equipment, hire staff, market services, provide security, and maintain infrastructure within the facility.
On its part, KPA will retain responsibility for maintaining the berth at Shimoni Port and ensuring compliance with government regulations.
The Shimoni Fish Port has a capacity of handling 24,000 tonnes of fish annually, making it the largest among a network of small seaports along the Kenyan coast, including Kiunga, Ngomeni, Malindi, Kilifi, Funzi and Vanga.
The government is banking on the facility to boost fisheries growth and unlock Kenya’s blue economy potential.
Data from the Kenya Fisheries Service shows that in 2024, Kenya produced 168,424 tonnes of fish valued at Sh39.6 billion, a 4.4 per cent increase from the 161,307 tonnes worth Sh35.9 billion recorded in 2023.
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