Nairobi, Sept. 14 -- The Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's recent call for practical reforms and stronger government-private sector partnership to unlock investment in the maritime sector is timely and necessary.

Maritime transport carries more than 90 percent of Kenya's external trade. With the Port of Mombasa's throughput projected to reach between 52 million and 61 million tonnes by 2030, Kenya needs a clear regulatory framework for maritime transport services.

It needs rules that protect cargo owners interests, promote Kenyan participation and hold operators accountable without discouraging investment, competition or innovation.

Presently, maritime transport services are regulated under the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), ...