Port users are putting pressure on the government to gazette the commercial maritime service regulations with the aim of reducing costs of doing business. Container Freight Station (CFS), ship agents, and shipping lines are largely to blame for the introduction of surcharges that affect business. These rules were submitted to the Ministry of Transport by Kenya Maritime Authority in 2009 which have since been forwarded to the Attorney General’s (AG) office. However, no action has been forthcoming, which causes great concern to shippers. There have been several stakeholder meetings to try and push for these rules to be gazetted but to no avail, however they say that they are not about to give up.

The Merchant Shipping Act was enacted in 2009 with the aim of regulating maritime industry but not a single regulation has been gazetted since. Research shows that importers loose over $50 million (Ksh 3.8 billion) due to unregulated increase of charges at the port by service providers.