Privatization of Mombasa port is key to the development of East African countries , a new report on transport costs within the region says.

The report which was done by CPCS Transcom Limited, a Canadian transport logistics research firm, also says that the private sector should play a major role in infrastructural development along the corridor. The report was carried out between November 2009 and May 2010 commissioned by the Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA).

The Northern Corridor links almost the entire East and Central Africa region, serving Kenya, Uganda, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and northern Tanzania. The competitiveness of the transport corridor countries' exports and processing of imports are highly influenced by the performance of Mombasa port. However, inefficiency at the port and slow movement of cargo due to capacity constraints and delays along the corridor are a stumbling block to development.

Currently, tyhe Kenya Ports Authority plays the roles of both a landlord and service provider at the port. Apart from managing the port, KPA also provides stevedoring and shore handling services. This dual role has contributed to inefficiencies in port operations.