John-Baptiste Gasangwa, a representative of the Rwandan business community that import goods through Mombasa, said fertiliser was one of the most important commodities in agriculture on which his country’s economy depended, and he couldn’t see why it should be subjected to unnecessary costs.

“As a crucial commodity, fertiliser should be handled with sensitivity and any decisions that have implication on its costs should be well considered before implementation,” he said after the Mombasa Port effected the new shipping tariffs.

Port harbour master and operations manager Captain Khamisi Twalib is defending the decision to levy the charges. “We are an international port and we are following the global trend; it is not a unique thing with Mombasa port,” he is quoted as saying.

However, what the importers get in return for their ‘hazardous cargo’ surcharge isn’t clear.