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Kenya Shippers Council (KSC)

Re-launch of the Kenya Shippers Council

The Kenya Shippers Council was re-launched as a cargo owners association following an agreement between cargo owners and the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA). The Council was first formed in 2004 under advice and support from KIFWA with a mandate to represent cargo owners' interests, with a view to facilitating smooth flow of cargo in and out of the country and hence contributing to reducing the cost of doing business in Kenya.

The Minister for Transport Hon. Chirau Ali Makwere, presided over the event together with the Permanent Secretary, Gerrishon Ikiara. Also in attendance was David Atteberry USAID/EA, and representatives of Kenya Association of Manufacturers, KIFWA, TTCA and several different Private Companies involved in shipment of goods by air, land and sea.

Though originally launched in 2004, the Kenya Shippers Council had become dormant. In November 2004, a meeting of interested parties was convened under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Trade & Industry, and sponsored by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), to initiate the transfer of control of the Council from KIFWA to cargo owners. This was consistent with the stated goals of the Council, to represent t In 2005, USAID East Africa, through the ECA Hub and in collaboration with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), sponsored the development of a Reactivation and Restructuring Plan by an independent consultant with a view to restore the financial and operational viability of the Council on a more sustainable basis.

KAM has been spearheading the reactivation process on behalf of other shippers (importers and exporters by sea, land and air). The reactivation and restructuring plan was presented to a stakeholder conference at the Serena Hotel on July 6, 2006, which endorsed it and established the KSC Interim Executive Committee (IEC) with a mandate to take over and drive the implementation process. The Hub extended its technical assistance to subsequent activities of the Interim Executive Committee.

In this regard, the Hub supported a marketing campaign to popularize the restructuring plan among business communities and facilitated the preparation of the re-launch as well as the Special General Meeting (SGM) that took place immediately after.
The SGM confirmed incumbent members of the IEC in their positions for a period of 6 months or up to the next Annual General Meeting, which ever is the earlier, and resolved that the IEC be expanded by a maximum of three seats to accommodate associate members, who until then were not represented. The SGM also resolved that the legal status of the Council be amended from a society to a company limited by guarantee. Changes to the relevant provisions of the constitution were adopted to allow implementation of the above resolutions.

Now, with the KSC being operational, it is expected that the interests of shippers/cargo owners, be they importers or exporters, will be represented and that the council will lobby government in order to achieve change that will improve trade in the country, and ultimately, the region.All shippers (i.e. cargo owners who import and/or export by air, sea or land) are eligible to become members of the council. Those who provide services to shippers, including Clearing and Forwarding agents, Transporters and Consultants are eligible to become associate members.he interests of cargo owners.

East African Airlines put on the spotlight

The government says it will take decisive action against East African Airlines if its safety records are found to be wanting. Transport Minister Chirau Mwakwere says he will next week lead a team to supervise planes operated by the company.The Minister made the remarks in parliament Wednesday following a question from Gem M.P Jakoyo Midiwo.Midiwo had sought to know when the minister will suspend the licence of the airlines after it almost crashed with four members of parliament on board while en-route to Kisumu. The minister said the plane in question had recorded four such incidents since January.And Education Minister Sam Ongeri told Parliament that the free primary education has a deficit of 47,200 teachers.Ongeri was answering a question by Butula MP Alfred Odhiambo who wanted to know when new teachers would be recruited to mitigate the teachers' shortfall.Ongeri said the ministry was financially constrained and would only employ 14-thousand teachers out of which 8-thousand would replace those who have left the service.

Written By:Graham Kirwa ,

Posted: Wed, Jul 09, 2008

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