By Jared Ogolla, All in Maritime News Mombasa, Kenya | July 19, 2025
In a decisive step towards transforming port operations in East Africa, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Captain William Ruto has reaffirmed the Authority’s dedication to digital transformation as the cornerstone of enhanced cargo handling, clearance, and port-wide efficiency. His remarks came during the Huawei Digital Transformation Forum held at Whitesands Hotel, Mombasa, a high-level convening of maritime, port, and smart technology leaders across Africa.
Captain Ruto announced that KPA is in the advanced stages of migrating to a next-generation Terminal Operating System (TOS)—a comprehensive software solution designed to digitize and integrate all key port processes, from ship planning and berth allocation to gate control, container tracking, yard management, and customs interfacing.
“The future of maritime logistics lies in how well we deploy and integrate smart systems,” said Captain Ruto. “This migration is not just a software upgrade—it’s an operational revolution for Mombasa and other regional ports under KPA.”
A Game-Changer for Port Operations
The Terminal Operating System under implementation is tailored to improve the speed, transparency, and predictability of port logistics. Mombasa Port, handling over 1.4 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) annually, is a lifeline for landlocked East African nations like Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Any delay or inefficiency ripples across these supply chains.
The new TOS promises:
Real-time container tracking
Automated berth scheduling and yard planning
Integration with customs and clearing systems
Faster gate-in/gate-out turnaround
Reduction in paperwork and manual data errors
“What this means for the regional logistics ecosystem is reduced vessel dwell time, optimized yard operations, and faster cargo delivery,” noted Mr. Tong Wang, Vice President for Transportation Industry, Huawei South Africa Region.
Huawei and KPA: A Strategic Technology Alliance
The forum was hosted by Huawei, a global technology giant with a growing footprint in smart port infrastructure. Present were top Huawei executives including Chief Specialist for Port Industry Mr. Dario Liu, and project leads Mr. Bob Yang, Zane Zeng, Bruce Yang, alongside KPA’s senior technical and operational teams.
Huawei’s global portfolio includes similar port digitization efforts in Shenzhen, Ningbo, and Durban, offering Kenya a roadmap to becoming a regional maritime logistics hub.
“We are not just bringing hardware—we are bringing knowledge, experience, and an ecosystem of solutions. Ports like Mombasa must evolve into smart ports to stay globally competitive,” said Mr. Liu.
An Engineer’s Perspective: Interview with Eng. Daniel Esilaba
To understand the technical significance of this migration, All in Maritime News sat down with Eng. Daniel Esilaba, a Senior Marine Surveyor, Maritime Systems Engineer, and Technical Advisor at Observater Surveys and Services Ltd—a company known for pioneering marine claims handling and cargo survey innovations in East Africa.
Jared Ogolla (AMN):Engineer, in your experience, how transformative is this shift to a new TOS system for a port like Mombasa?
Eng. Esilaba: “It’s massive. Think of a TOS as the brain of a port. For years, Mombasa has operated on fragmented systems that required manual bridging between departments. A unified TOS centralizes all operational data, reduces human error, and gives stakeholders—from shipping lines to truckers—visibility into where their cargo is and what’s next.”
Jared (AMN):What challenges do you anticipate in this kind of migration?
Eng. Esilaba: “Change management is always the biggest hurdle—training personnel, ensuring legacy systems integrate smoothly, and maintaining uptime during the transition. But KPA is taking the right steps by working with experienced players like Huawei.”
Jared (AMN):Will this change benefit cargo owners and clearing agents directly?
Eng. Esilaba: “Absolutely. For example, cargo owners will soon be able to log in and track container movement in real time. That means better planning for haulage, reduced demurrage fees, and quicker dispute resolution. Clearing agents will benefit from automation of customs data exchanges, which improves compliance and turnaround time.”
Industry Experts Laud the Move
Stakeholders across the region’s maritime logistics sector welcomed the announcement. Among them, Observater Surveys and Services Ltd, a Kenya-headquartered firm with operations in Tanzania, Mozambique, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Uganda, noted that the upgraded TOS could significantly reduce common causes of cargo delay and documentation errors—two key contributors to marine insurance claims.
“We’ve seen first-hand how manual inconsistencies and outdated port systems complicate damage claim verification,” said a technical statement released by Observater. “With TOS integration, we expect increased traceability, better data logs for loss adjusters, and improved transparency across the chain of custody.”
Regional Maritime Implications
Kenya’s investment in port digitization is part of a broader regional competition for trade corridors. Tanzania’s Port of Dar es Salaam and Djibouti’s multi-modal logistics hub have made strides in digitization. KPA’s TOS upgrade is thus essential not only for operational efficiency but for safeguarding Mombasa’s position as the preferred gateway to East Africa.
In 2024, the World Bank ranked Mombasa Port #321 globally in the Container Port Performance Index, citing congestion and low digital readiness as key drawbacks. With the new TOS, KPA aims to drastically improve that rating within the next two years.
Looking Ahead
As KPA transitions to its modernized Terminal Operating System, the future of Mombasa Port looks more connected, data-driven, and globally aligned. From the reduction of ship turnaround times to improved cargo visibility for inland stakeholders, the upgrade marks a turning point in East Africa’s maritime evolution.
“Digital transformation is no longer a luxury—it is the only way forward,” Captain Ruto concluded. “We are building a port that will not only serve Kenya but define trade across the continent.”
About All in Maritime News
All in Maritime News is Africa’s premier maritime intelligence platform, delivering fact-checked, expert-driven coverage on port operations, shipping trends, logistics innovations, and marine policy developments across the continent and beyond.
