Logistics services in Kenya.

Kenya logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Logistics services in Kenya center on seaport, airport, rail, and cross-border road options. The country is coastal, with about 536 km of shoreline and 4 main seaports, and it moves about 2 million TEU of containers per year. Mombasa is the primary cargo port, supported by Lamu, Malindi, and Kilifi, and has a rail connection for inland moves.

Air freight uses 11 airports with scheduled service, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Moi International Airport in Mombasa. Cross-border trucking links Kenya with Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, while a rail network of about 3,819 km adds inland transport options for freight moving to and from the ports.

Freight forwarders in Kenya handle cargo flows mainly through Mombasa and Nairobi, so shippers should look for experience at these gateways. Kenya handles about 2 million TEU annually and ranks 51 of 168 countries by container volume, so forwarders should be familiar with higher-volume port operations and schedules. The country’s Logistics Performance Index score is 2.81, similar to the world median, with customs at 2.65 and infrastructure at 2.55.

Given these LPI results, shippers should check a forwarder’s track record with customs coordination and port handling. Kenya trades heavily with partners such as Uganda, USA, UAE, Netherlands, Pakistan, China, India, and Saudi Arabia, and is part of COMESA, EAC, and the AU, so regional trade rules and preferences matter for routing and documentation. Many global shipping lines, including APL, CMA CGM, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Maersk, COSCO, and others, have offices in Mombasa and Nairobi, so choosing a forwarder with strong carrier relationships can help with equipment and space.

Seaborne container traffic in Kenya moves mainly through the port of Mombasa, a medium-size port with rail access and cargo pier depth of 9.4 m. Additional seaports are Lamu, Malindi and Kilifi, with Kilifi also showing a pier depth of 9.4 m. Kenya handles about 2 million TEU a year and ranks 51 of 168 countries globally and 3 of 33 in Sub-Saharan Africa for container throughput.

The liner shipping connectivity index is 16.48, with Kenya ranking 78 of 169 countries, supported by lines with offices in Mombasa and Nairobi such as Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO, Evergreen, APL, PIL, HMM, Emirates Shipping Line, Gold Star Line and KMTC. Observed FCL rates to Mombasa include about 7,950 USD for a 40HC from Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City) and about 3,071 to 5,834 USD for a 20ST from origins like Karachi, Mundra, Port Klang and Ho Chi Minh City on dates in late 2026.

Air freight in Kenya uses 11 airports with scheduled service, with Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi as the main hub. Other airports include Eldoret International, Kisumu International, Moi International in Mombasa, and Amboseli. Kenya handled about 289 million tonne-km of air cargo in 2023, ranking 48 of 184 countries worldwide and 2 of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The export mix of tea, cut flowers, garments, gold, and tropical fruits aligns well with air freight for higher-value or time-sensitive products such as flowers and some perishables. Main air routes include Nairobi to Addis Ababa at about 1,222 km, Nairobi to Jeddah at about 2,697 km, and Nairobi to Johannesburg at about 3,058 km, helping connect Kenyan exports and imports with regional and long-haul markets.

Rail and road freight in Kenya benefits from a rail network of about 3,819 km and multiple land borders. Rail freight moved about 1,399 million tonne-km in 2004, with a world rank of 61 of 113 countries and 3 of 24 in the region. Mombasa port has a rail link, allowing intermodal transfers between ships and inland destinations.

Trucking connects Kenya with Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, with border lengths ranging from about 317 km with South Sudan to 867 km with Ethiopia. Road corridors through Uganda are especially relevant given Uganda’s 10 percent share of Kenya’s exports and its role in regional trade. Shippers often combine road and rail for moves between inland origins and the coastal ports.

Customs clearance in Kenya operates within international frameworks, with the country a member of the World Customs Organization since 1965-05-24 and a member of the World Trade Organization. Trade policy includes participation in COMESA, the East African Community, and the African Union, and the average applied tariff is 11.7 percent. Kenya’s LPI customs score is 2.65 compared with a world median of 2.6, and the overall LPI is 2.81.

Typical documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, and transport document, coordinated by the freight forwarder or customs broker. Border and clearance performance is reflected in export and import lead times, both at about 4 days in 2018. Given these timelines, shippers should plan enough buffer for customs and port handling, especially during peak seasons and for complex cargo or tariff classifications.