FILE PHOTO | NMG
Kenya has handed cross-border importers 30-day free storage at the newly-launched Naivasha inland container depot (ICD) as it moves to cut trucking distance and reduce exposure to Covid-19 within its territory.
The free cargo storage period at the Naivasha ICD given by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in a review unveiled Monday, is double the 14 days being offered to importers who choose to pick their cargo from Mombasa port or Nairobi ICD.
While Kenya has been keen on moving transit cargo to Naivasha since its launch of direct standard gauge railway freight services from Mombasa last year, the high number of truck drivers testing positive for Covid-19 has hastened the process.
Under the changes, the free cargo storage period for import goods on transit has from Monday been extended to 14 days at the Mombasa port and Nairobi ICD, up from the current nine days.
The temporary relief falls short of last month's calls by importers on the KPA to increase the free cargo period from four to 11 days for local consignments and from nine days to 21 days for transit imports.
