Kenya Plans Major Ship Repair Facility at Mombasa Port to Attract International Vessels

Kenya is planning to build a major ship repair facility at the Port of Mombasa to attract international vessels and expand its presence in the Indian Ocean maritime market. The project has been proposed by Kenya Shipyards Limited as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s shipbuilding and repair industry.The state corporation wants to construct a specialised facility known as a graving dock, where ships are taken out of the water for repairs and maintenance. The proposed facility would accommodate vessels measuring between 185 and 285 metres and handle up to 32 ship repair contracts annually. This would be a major increase from its current capacity of accommodating only five vessels at a time.

The plans were presented to the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations during an inspection of the corporation’s Kisumu shipyard on Friday, November 6. The estimated cost of the proposed project was not disclosed. Lawmakers also examined plans to introduce passenger ferry services on Lake Turkana.

Kenya Shipyards, established in 2020, has been expanding its operations to manufacture, maintain and repair vessels locally. One of its major projects is MV Uhuru II, a 100-metre cargo ship worth KSh2.4 billion. The vessel began operating on Lake Victoria in September 2024, transporting goods between Kisumu Port and Uganda’s Port Bell.

The corporation has also acquired modern equipment, including fibre-laser cutting machines and robotic welding systems, to improve local ship production. Head of Production Brigadier Peter Muthungu told the committee that direct engagement with equipment suppliers had reduced costs from KSh718 million to KSh366 million.

However, lawmakers questioned the corporation’s continued dependence on government funding despite managing projects worth KSh6.22 billion. Management explained that payments are made in stages after completing agreed project milestones. Mandera North MP Abdullaih Bashir challenged the corporation to achieve financial independence within the next two financial years.

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