Strategies Adopted by Kenya Ports Authority in Its Quest to Be a World Class Sea Port of Choice

Abstract

The survival and success of an organization occurs when the organization creates and maintains a match between its strategy and the environment and also between its internal capability and its strategy. KPA envisions itself to be World class seaports of choice with a mission of facilitating and promoting global maritime trade through provision of competitive port services. Strategies are the various game plans developed by organizations in respond to the challenges posted by the operating environment. Organizations have to adequately and promptly respond to these challenges in the environment for them to be successful. The objectives of this study included: determining the strategies adopted by Kenya Ports Authority in its quest to be a world class sea port of choice and determining the effectiveness of these strategies developed in transforming the Port into a world – class sea port. This study adopted a case study design. The study used primary data collected using interview guides on the CEO and general managers at KPA. The data obtained from the interview guide was analyzed using content analysis. The data was then presented in prose format. The study concludes that KPA had plans of improving quality of services offered which were achieved through customer service charter, Performance standards, ISO Certification, baseline surveys to establish as is position, annual customer satisfaction survey, internal work standards measurements, annual financial performance measures (accounts) and bulletin of statistics. The study also concludes that KPA uses employee training and development as a strategy to improve its operations. Further the study concludes that KPA engages in collaborations with other sea ports like Port of Singapore, Shanghai, Egypt, Durban, the collaboration has influenced world-class status attainment at KPA by bench marking with world-class service providers worldwide. The study recommends that further training and study tours be used to allow the exchange of ideas among KPA employees and those in world-class service ports. The study also recommends that there is need to understand competitor strengths in the market and then position one’s own offerings to take advantage of weaknesses and avoid head on clashes against strengths.