As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) family came together in a powerful display of unity and mutual respect, hosting a joint iftar dinner for staff to break their fast.
The gathering brought together Muslim employees who have been observing the mandatory thirty-day fast—one of the five pillars of Islam—creating an atmosphere of shared purpose and workplace camaraderie that transcended individual roles and departments.
The event, held last evening at the Mbaraki Club , served as more than just a meal. It was a moment of collective reflection, bringing together colleagues from various divisions to share in the spiritual significance of the season.
For many attendees, the iftar provided an opportunity to strengthen bonds with coworkers they interact with daily, reinforcing the sense of family that KPA has long sought to cultivate among its workforce.
Addressing the gathering, the Managing Director, Capt. William Ruto, encouraged staff to carry the values of devotion, self-discipline, and community commitment nurtured during the fasting season into their daily professional lives. He observed that the qualities demonstrated during Ramadan—patience, sacrifice, and empathy—are precisely the attributes that drive excellence in the workplace when consistently applied.
“Ramadan teaches us that discipline and devotion can transform us as individuals,” Capt. Ruto remarked. “If we carry these lessons beyond this month and into our work, we will not only improve as professionals but will also elevate the services we deliver to our customers and the nation.”
The Managing Director took the opportunity to commend the workforce for their instrumental role in driving strong performance across all port facilities over the past year. He noted that KPA has recorded significant improvements in operational efficiency, reduced vessel turnaround times, and increased cargo throughput—achievements he attributed directly to staff diligence and commitment.
Capt. Ruto urged employees to maintain high levels of discipline as cargo volumes continue to rise, emphasizing that the Authority’s recent successes must serve as a foundation for even greater accomplishments. He called for sustained individual and collective responsibility to ensure efficient service delivery across all ports under KPA’s management.
“To ensure our ports operate efficiently and to the satisfaction of our customers, we must all embrace our roles with dedication,” Capt. Ruto told the attentive gathering. “Every worker, regardless of their position, contributes to the bigger picture of making Kenya’s ports competitive regionally and globally.”
The MD Highlighted the performance achievements including at the Port of Lamu.
He announced that the port is set to receive a car carrier tomorrow—the second such vessel in just over a week—which will offload 2,500 motor vehicle units for transshipment. This flow of roll-on/roll-off traffic signals Lamu’s emergence as a preferred gateway for vehicle imports to the region.
Capt. Ruto further noted that three additional vessels are currently waiting to dock at Lamu, attributing the increased shipping traffic to strategic government interventions channeled through KPA. These efforts, he explained, have ensured the facility is well-equipped and operationally ready to handle growing cargo volumes, with modern handling equipment and streamlined procedures now in place.
“The Port of Lamu was envisioned as a transformative project for this country, and we are now beginning to see that vision realized,” the MD stated. “The vessels calling at Lamu today are not just ships—they are proof that our investments in infrastructure are paying off and that shippers have confidence in our ability to handle their business.”
Ruto asked the staff to sustain their efforts across all workstations to effectively manage the increasing business through the nation’s ports. He reminded staff that operational excellence requires constant vigilance, adaptability, and a customer-focused mindset—principles that must guide every interaction and decision.
Earlier in the day, Capt Ruto also led the Authority in a gesture of corporate social responsibility, presenting a donation of food supplies to various religious groups and Community Based Organizations as part of KPA’s humanitarian assistance during the Ramadan period.
The initiative reflects the Authority’s broader commitment to supporting the communities in which it operates, recognizing that strong relationships with neighbors and stakeholders are essential to long-term success.
The Managing Director was accompanied by the Manager of Corporate Communication, Mr. Jones Buchere; the Manager of Security Services, Mr. Tony Kibwana; and the Manager of Financial Accounting, Mr. Said Mata, among other key stakeholders, including religious and local leaders. Their presence underscored the collaborative approach KPA takes to both internal and external engagement.
The twin events—the iftar dinner and the food donation—underscored KPA’s commitment to both employee welfare and community engagement, reinforcing the values of unity, service, and shared prosperity that drive the organization forward. As Ramadan concludes and the celebration of Eid al-Fitr approaches, the Authority has demonstrated that its vision extends beyond cargo handling to encompass the human connections that make sustainable development possible.