KE Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
Kenya UN/LOCODEs begin with KE. For example, KEMOM identifies the Mombasa record in the Ecer Freight sample, while KENBO identifies Nairobi.
Seaports in Kenya: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Kenya has 13 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, with Mombasa serving as the country’s principal maritime gateway to East Africa.
Review Kenya port codes, cargo gateways, inland freight nodes and regional shipping connections in one place.
Kenya Port Overview
Kenya’s maritime freight system is centered on Mombasa, while Nairobi and other inland locations function as logistics, customs and distribution nodes connected to the coast by road and rail. Indexed coverage and international league-table rankings are separate measures.
13
Kenya ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
—
National cargo throughput, 2025; YoY change not stated in the available public snapshot
Kenya Ports Authority · 2025 statistics
—
Container throughput, 2025; YoY change not stated in the available public snapshot
KPA · 2025 statistics
—
Commercial berth count, 2025; YoY change not stated in the available public snapshot
KPA · 2025 port information
How many seaports does Kenya have?
Kenya has 13 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Kenya database snapshot for November 2026. This indexed count includes maritime and inland freight records and is not a count of independently operating deep-water seaports.
What is Kenya’s largest or busiest port?
Mombasa is Kenya’s principal and busiest maritime gateway. The Ecer Freight database lists Mombasa under UN/LOCODE KEMOM, with an additional Mombasa record under KEMBA.
Which areas handle the main freight flows?
The main freight corridor runs from Mombasa through Nairobi and Embakasi toward inland markets. The indexed records include Mombasa KEMOM, Nairobi KENBO and Embakasi KEEMB, together with regional nodes such as Kisumu KEKIS and Eldoret KEEDL.
Top Ports and Freight Nodes in Kenya
The table below follows the activity order of the Ecer Freight Kenya sample. It includes the principal maritime gateway and inland logistics records; a comparable 2025 global ranking, throughput series and year-on-year result are not published for every indexed record.
Kenya port and freight-node ranking, 2025 reference year
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Mombasa | KEMOM | — | — | Coastal Kenya |
| — | Mombasa | KEMBA | — | — | Coastal Kenya |
| — | Nairobi | KENBO | — | — | Nairobi freight corridor |
| — | Embakasi | KEEMB | — | — | Nairobi freight corridor |
| — | Kisumu | KEKIS | — | — | Lake Victoria region |
| — | Eldoret | KEEDL | — | — | Western Kenya |
| — | Nakuru | KENUU | — | — | Rift Valley |
| — | Malindi | KEMYD | — | — | Coastal Kenya |
Kenya Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Coastal Kenya
The coast contains Kenya’s principal ocean-facing gateway and smaller coastal freight records serving local, regional and project cargo movements.
Coastal port records
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mombasa | KEMOM | Mombasa / — | Container, bulk, general and regional maritime freight |
| Mombasa | KEMBA | Mombasa / — | Additional Mombasa terminal or location record |
| Malindi | KEMYD | Malindi / — | Coastal and local maritime activity |
| Malindi | KEMAL | Malindi / — | Additional Malindi location record |
| Lamu | KELAU | Lamu / — | Coastal, project and regional cargo potential |
| Lamu | KELAM | Lamu / — | Additional Lamu location record |
| Vanga | KEVGA | Vanga / — | Local coastal and cross-border maritime activity |
Nairobi Freight Corridor
Nairobi and Embakasi are inland logistics locations linked to Mombasa by the main road and rail freight corridor.
Nairobi-area freight records
Western Kenya and Rift Valley
Western and Rift Valley records support inland distribution, agricultural supply chains and connections to the national freight corridor.
Inland regional freight records
Kenya Port Codes and UN/LOCODEs
Kenya location codes use the country prefix KE followed by a three-character location identifier. The database may contain separate records for a city, terminal, inland depot or related freight location.
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A city-level record and a terminal-level record can appear separately in a freight database. KEMOM and KEMBA are both listed for Mombasa, while KENBO and KEEMB represent Nairobi-area records.
How to Verify a Kenya Port Code
Compare the code with the location name, shipment documents and carrier booking data. The UNECE reference environment and the Ecer Freight port directory provide useful verification starting points.
Shipping from Kenya: Main Trade Lanes
Kenya’s international sea freight generally connects through Mombasa, with inland cargo consolidated or delivered through Nairobi and Embakasi. Transit times vary by carrier, routing, transshipment, equipment and customs conditions.
Kenya to Europe
Common flows include agricultural exports, manufactured goods and containerized imports moving between East Africa and European hubs.
Kenya to Asia
Asian services support imports of machinery, consumer goods, electronics, textiles and industrial inputs for Kenyan and regional markets.
Kenya to the Middle East
The lane serves food products, building materials, consumer cargo and regional distribution through Gulf gateways.
Kenya and East Africa
Mombasa is a regional gateway for cargo serving Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and other inland East African markets through the Northern Corridor.
Kenya Port Data Methodology and Sources
The page separates Ecer Freight’s indexed location coverage from official operational statistics and international port rankings. Figures are shown only where the relevant year and comparable public basis are clear.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party database snapshot for November 2026, containing 13 Kenya port and terminal records.
- Kenya Ports Authority — official port operations, cargo and infrastructure information for Kenya’s maritime gateway.
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics — official national transport, trade and economic statistics where published.
- UNECE — international UN/LOCODE reference framework and location-code guidance.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — maritime location and geographic reference material used for cross-checking port identities.
Kenya Port FAQ
How many seaports does Kenya have?
Kenya has 13 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the November 2026 database snapshot. The indexed total includes maritime and inland freight records and should not be treated as a count of deep-water seaports alone.
What is the main port in Kenya?
Mombasa is Kenya’s main maritime gateway and the most important port for containerized and general cargo. Ecer Freight lists the principal Mombasa record as KEMOM and an additional Mombasa record as KEMBA.
What is the UN/LOCODE prefix for Kenya?
The UN/LOCODE country prefix for Kenya is KE. Sample records include KEMOM for Mombasa, KENBO for Nairobi and KEKIS for Kisumu.
Which regions are connected to Kenya’s main port?
Mombasa connects international maritime cargo with Nairobi, Embakasi, the Rift Valley, western Kenya and wider East African inland markets. Road and rail conditions, border processes and cargo type affect final delivery time.
Are Nairobi and Embakasi seaports?
No. Nairobi and Embakasi are inland logistics and freight records in the Ecer Freight sample. They support customs, container handling, consolidation and distribution connected to Mombasa.
How current is the Kenya port information?
The indexed database snapshot is dated November 2026, while the latest complete statistical reference year is 2025. Schedules, capacity, congestion, surcharges and transit times remain subject to confirmation at booking.
How can a shipper request Kenya sea freight rates?
Shippers can compare FCL sea freight rates or LCL sea freight rates. A dependable quotation normally requires origin, destination, cargo description, weight, volume, equipment type, Incoterm and requested sailing date.
Editorial note: Kenya port coverage is based on the Ecer Freight database snapshot for November 2026. Official port, cargo and infrastructure information is checked against recognized Kenyan and international sources where available, while carrier schedules, transit times and commercial rates should be reconfirmed before shipment. The page is reviewed and updated as source data and database coverage change.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Kenya: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact