Traders Face Supply Crises as Arrival of Ships is Annulled at the Mombasa Port

Following the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease, many traders are now facing supply shortage as a result of the cancellation of more than 36 ships arrivals at the Mombasa port with 104 others awaiting their fate.

It is feared that the supply crisis may lead to a high cost of goods for Kenyans.

Speaking during an interview with Business Daily, Kenya Ports Authority managing director Daniel Manduku, said “we have so far seen our business negatively disrupted following the cancellation of 37 ships scheduled to make call in March while fate of 104 others remain uncertain.”

The situation described as the “the worst ever” for the port has come at a time when the country is preparing for an economic hit  due to measures taken to limit the spread of the disease locally.

Since its outbreak in China three months ago, essential supplies for East African businesses, especially small and medium enterprises have been cut off, leaving them fighting to stay afloat as they heavily rely on bulk goods such as electronics, industrial raw materials and machinery, household items and food imports coming through the port.

Last week, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance reported that 61 per cent of businesses have felt the heat of the Covid-19 on their operations, with many of them slow down operations.