Six oil tankers are among 51 vessels expected at the ports of Mombasa and Lamu over the next two weeks, according to the latest Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) shipping schedule.

"Six oil tankers are among 51 vessels expected to call at the ports of Mombasa and Lamu over the next 14 days," KPA said in its schedule dated 19 October 2026, which covers the period to 31 October.

Mombasa

Mombasa will handle 41 vessels: 26 container ships, seven conventional cargo vessels, six oil tankers and two car carriers.

The tankers are bringing butane, a component of cooking gas (19 October), V-Power premium petrol (20 October), base oil for engine lubricants and gasoil (21 October), and palm oil (29 October), Kenyans.co.ke reported.

Other expected cargo includes two clinker vessels for cement production (22 October), bulk wheat (25 October), steel coils (26 October) and two car carriers (29 and 31 October).

Lamu

Lamu Port expects 10 vessels: nine container ships and one general cargo ship.

Fuel supply worries

The schedule offers some relief amid concern over fuel supplies. Two Kenya-bound petroleum tankers were hit by drone strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) had warned that the country was waiting for crucial fuel shipments.

Talks between the United States and Iran on resolving the Hormuz crisis have raised hopes of calmer global fuel markets. Pump prices remain high. This month EPRA raised petrol by Sh12.93 and kerosene by Sh28.49 a litre, prompting protests in Nairobi.

Ports' growing role

Mombasa is East Africa's largest port and serves Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, the DRC and other landlocked neighbours. The government has been pushing more traffic to Lamu as part of the LAPSSET corridor, where a refinery project was launched last month.

Photo: Kenyans.co.ke (file)