KPA TO INSTALL MPESA PAYMENT SYSTEM

The Managing director Mr. Gichiri Ndua hands over a plaque to the Safaricom CEO Mr. Bob Collymore, while Heads of Marketing and Human resources oversee.

The Kenya Ports Authority is in the process of installing MPESA Technology to its cash payment system to reduce handling of huge amounts of money at its cash office. This was revealed recently by the KPA Managing Director Mr. Gichiri Ndua, when he hosted the Safaricom CEO at the port.

“We are in the process of making provision to include MPESA technology to our payment system by integrating it into our SAP System”, he said.

He added that this will be for both KPA customers and employees where KPA can pay through MPESA in small ad hoc transactions such as subsistence, imprest, and others. The programme is expected to start by April this year.

KPA also will in conjunction with Safaricom, upgrade the programme which embeds its Hand Held Terminals(HHTs) under the KWATOS system at the Container Terminal from 3G to 4G to enhance its connectivity.

 KPA installed the Kilindini Waterfront Terminal Operations System(KWATOS) to automate our terminal operations. One aspect is the yard operations which gives real time and online information by use of Hand Held Terminals (HHT). This enables the operators to key in the cargo stack position.

“These HHTs are embedded on Simcard and we would like to boost their Network by upgrading from 3G to 4G” Mr. Ndua added.

KPA also plans to install Solar Panels to boost power supply to the wireless system to minimize loss time due to frequent power fluctuations. Power surges have in the past affected port operations due to equipment downtime.