In the recent past there has been an outcry by government and cargo owners about overloading and its impacts on Kenyan roads for goods going to the hinterland. The recently held 27th Edition of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) ‘World Ports Conference’ in Busan, Korea discussed risks associated with incorrectly stowed, overweight and incorrectly documented containerized cargo. The conference, previously chaired by Kenya Ports Authority MD Mr. Gichiri Ndua who handed over the presidency to Mrs. Geraldine Knatz of the Port of Los Angeles, noted that road transport safety is compromised by unstable containers and roads damaged by overweight containers, problems attributed to lack of knowledge and inaccurate declaration by shippers about containers at the origin of transport. 

Proposals made include requests to international organizations such as the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to adopt requirements for shippers to correctly pack and document cargo in containers including mandatory accurate weighing at the origin of the shipment. Further it was proposed that agencies responsible for road infrastructure should designate and develop road systems for special and bulky port cargo such as heavy containers and over-size cargo.

Kenya Shippers Council is working with Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and Kenya Transport Association (KTA) on awareness programs for shippers and transporters on allowable container weights and enforcement of axle load regulations.

The IAPH conference further made resolutions on piracy, and development of port infrastructure to meet emerging requirements like the trend of larger capacity ships of up to 18,000 TEUs, with complimentary channels, breakwaters, terminals and land transport infrastructure.