Rwanda and Kenya Deepen Regional Trade Cooperation with Establishment of KPA Liaison Office in Kigali
On Thursday, 22 January 2026, the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) hosted a ceremony in Kigali to formalise the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Liaison Office in Kigali. The event marked a milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Kenya, with a focus on trade facilitation, logistics efficiency and regional integration along the Northern Corridor.
The ceremony was presided over by the Permanent Secretary at MININFRA, Canoth Manishimwe, together with Mohamed Daghar, CBS, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department for Transport within the Ministry of Roads and Transport.
The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework to strengthen institutional and commercial linkages between Rwanda’s business community and services at the Port of Mombasa. The establishment of the KPA Liaison Office in Kigali is intended to enhance coordination, improve access to port services, streamline logistics operations and support the competitiveness of both local and regional trade.
During the ceremony, the Kenyan delegation highlighted growth in Rwandan cargo volumes transiting through the Port of Mombasa, which increased from approximately 600,000 metric tonnes in 2024 to more than 800,000 metric tonnes in 2025. The trend was presented as an indication of rising trade volumes and improving corridor performance, with potential to reach one million metric tonnes in the near term.
Participants were also briefed on the completion of the Kipevu Oil Terminal, an investment expected to improve efficiency in the handling of petroleum products. Rwandan businesses were encouraged to take advantage of these infrastructure developments to expand trade volumes through the Port of Mombasa, with Kenya reaffirming its commitment to providing reliable and competitive port services.
Rwandan officials underscored that the MoU represents a continuation of the longstanding partnership between Rwanda and Kenya, grounded in shared regional interests and cooperation. Rwanda’s status as a land-linked country places particular importance on efficient, reliable and cost-effective access to regional and international markets, with the Northern Corridor and the Port of Mombasa playing a central role in the country’s trade and logistics framework.
The KPA Liaison Office in Kigali will function as a single interface between Rwanda’s public and private sector stakeholders and the Kenya Ports Authority. This is expected to improve cargo tracking and predictability, reduce transit times, resolve operational issues more efficiently and lower overall logistics costs. These objectives align with Rwanda’s national development priorities and its regional trade commitments under the East African Community and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
