The government of South Sudan has requested President William Ruto to put an end to the monopoly held by a company linked to former Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho’s family in handling cargo destined for South Sudan through the Mombasa port and rail line. In a surprising change of stance, President Salva Kiir now wants Dr. Ruto to allow the clearance of goods to and from South Sudan at the port of Mombasa instead of the Nairobi Freight Terminal (NFT).
Juba aims to break the monopoly by involving additional firms such as Compact, Consolbase, MCT, and MitchellCotts to handle its goods in Kenya. By doing so, South Sudan seeks to promote competition and reduce dependence on a single entity.
Autoports Freight Terminals Limited, associated with the Joho family, has been responsible for handling the majority of South Sudan imports at the NFT.
President Kiir, in a diplomatic communication addressed to Ruto and seen by the Business Daily, highlighted the reasons behind South Sudan’s preference for the port of Mombasa over the Nairobi Freight Terminal. Kiir expressed his conviction that President Ruto’s influence and intervention would help convey South Sudan’s decision to the relevant institutions, including the Kenya Ports Authority and the Nairobi Freight Terminal, involved in the movement of goods to and from South Sudan.
The request from South Sudan reflects their desire to diversify and improve efficiency in the handling of their imports and exports. By urging President Ruto to break the monopoly and involve multiple companies, South Sudan aims to enhance competition and facilitate smoother trade operations between the two nations.