President Uhuru Gifts Uganda Land in Naivasha to Build Dry Port

President Kenyatta says Kenya will give Uganda land in Naivasha to build a dry port for its cargo.

Kenyatta says the port will ease the cost of ferrying goods between the two countries.

Speaking when he hosted Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni for a dinner at State House, Mombasa on Wednesday night, Kenyatta says the move is in line with the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kampala.

“I have confirmed to President Museveni that with that development in Naivasha and then moving the SGR to Malaba, goods will be able to move from Mombasa to Malaba in just two days,” President Kenyatta says.

Kenyatta also says the move is part of Kenya's long-term plan to move all cargo from the road to the SGR.

“But more importantly, it (SGR) will reduce the cost of transport for Ugandan investors and Uganda itself. It will improve the efficiency of Mombasa Port to the benefit of our people,” adds Kenyatta.

Kenyatta has also revealed that the transportation of petroleum products to Uganda via Lake Victoria will begin once the ongoing construction of the Kisumu petroleum jetty is complete.

“For the first time since colonial days, we are utilizing Lake Victoria for transportation thereby reducing the cost of moving fuel (petroleum) to Uganda and increasing the potential for trade between the two countries."

President Museveni is in Kenya for a two-day State visit aimed at strengthening trade ties between the two nations.