The Kenya Transporters Association (KTA) has issued new minimum transportation cost guidelines to its members, stating that the continuously intensifying operational challenges are exerting pressure on the road transportation industry. In a statement to its members, the association said that in light of the increasing number of inquiries regarding the structure of transportation costs, especially the difficulties faced by transporters due to prolonged truck turnaround times and high maintenance and operational costs, it has reviewed the current industry situation. The reasons for prolonged transportation turnaround times include congestion at the Mombasa port and inefficient border clearance in the Northern Corridor serving Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Kenya Transporters Association pointed out that the new benchmark aims to reflect the regular costs incurred by transporters when delivering goods and promote the long-term sustainable development of transportation business. According to the new guidelines, the one-way transportation cost for transit goods (excluding road usage fees) should be at least $2 per kilometer (approximately KES 257.25); for local goods, the association has set a minimum one-way cost of KES 250 per kilometer. None of the above benchmarks includes the cost of last-mile distribution, which varies depending on the destination and operational conditions.
