Ambassador Morgan Pitia and Kenyan SG Musalia Mudavadi shake hands during bilateral meeting

South Sudan and Kenya are discussing the remaining procedures needed to operationalize South Sudan’s dry port in Naivasha, a facility expected to reduce cargo clearance delays and storage costs for traders.

The discussions took place during an official visit to Kenya by Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Dr. James Pitia Morgan, who met Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, and other senior officials.

According to South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Kenya has confirmed that land for the dry port has already been granted to South Sudan.

The ministry says the remaining steps involve completing administrative procedures, including the issuance of the required waiver, before the facility can begin operations.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ambassador Apuk Ayuel Mayen said the talks focused on arrangements to operationalize the facility.

“The visit focused on matters of mutual interest, including arrangements for the operationalization of South Sudan’s dry port in Naivasha. The Government of Kenya confirmed that the land has been granted to South Sudan. The remaining steps relate to the completion of administrative procedures, including the issuance of the necessary waiver,” she said.

Ambassador Apuk said the dry port is expected to improve the movement and clearance of goods destined for South Sudan and help address challenges faced by traders at the Port of Mombasa.

She said delays at the port have resulted in high storage costs and, in some cases, the auctioning of cargo that remained uncleared for extended periods.

“Once operational, the dry port will ease the movement and clearance of cargo destined for South Sudan. It will help address the long-standing problem of goods overstaying at the Port of Mombasa, where traders have incurred heavy storage charges and, in some cases, lost cargo through auction because of clearance delays,” Apuk said.

The ministry says the Naivasha dry port is expected to lower the cost of doing business and improve cargo handling for South Sudan-bound imports once operational.