By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, July 16, 2026 - The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has earned two international certifications in environmental management and occupational health and safety, marking a major milestone in its efforts to strengthen sustainable port operations and improve workplace safety.
The Authority was awarded the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems certification and the ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems certification, reinforcing its commitment to globally recognised standards in environmental protection and employee welfare.
The certificates were presented during a ceremony in Mombasa by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari said the achievement reflects KPA's continued commitment to operational excellence and sustainable growth.
She noted that the Authority has maintained the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems certification since 2010, demonstrating more than a decade of commitment to quality service delivery and customer satisfaction.
"Today's certification to ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 represents a natural progression in KPA's excellence journey," Ngari said.
She said KPA had moved beyond quality management to an integrated system that places quality, environmental stewardship and occupational health and safety at the centre of its operations.
According to Ngari, the achievement positions KPA among world-class port authorities and sets a benchmark for public sector institutions in Kenya and across Africa.
She added that the Port of Mombasa, which serves as the main gateway to East and Central Africa, plays a critical role in regional trade, with improvements in its management systems expected to enhance logistics services for countries including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi.
KPA Managing Director Capt. William Ruto described the certification as the culmination of years of reforms, resilience and institutional transformation.
"The certification crowns years of hard work, resilience and adaptation at the port," he said.
Capt. Ruto said the recognition reflects KPA's transformation journey over the past decade and thanked KEBS for supporting the certification process.
He said the adoption of ISO standards had fundamentally changed the Authority's operations by strengthening internal systems, improving discipline and enhancing the port's ability to respond to evolving operational demands.
"The reforms we are witnessing were driven by the realities KPA faced in the early 2000s, when rising cargo volumes, outdated infrastructure, manual processes and growing safety and environmental risks threatened the port's ability to evolve into a more resilient and globally competitive maritime gateway," he said.
The new certifications come as KPA continues to modernise its facilities and improve operational efficiency to meet growing regional demand for port and logistics services.
Both KEBS and KPA described the certifications as not only an endorsement of the Authority's past reforms but also a foundation for further improvements in making the Port of Mombasa a safer, environmentally responsible and globally competitive maritime gateway.
More from Kenya