Operations at a major logistics hub in Mombasa were brought to a standstill following a dramatic police raid, prompting strong objections from a company associated with KANU Chairman Gideon Moi.
The facility in question, Kencont Container Freight Station (CFS)—a branch of the Siginon Group—was stormed on Friday by officers from Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) and national police, igniting legal and political tensions.
Security teams forcibly accessed the Kencont premises, citing land ownership disputes and claiming the facility occupies public land acquired irregularly. The site has remained under tight surveillance, with police presence sustained over the weekend, supplemented by private security personnel maintaining the closure.
Eva Odongo, Kencont’s legal affairs officer, condemned the action, labeling it unjustified and disruptive. She asserted that the company occupies the land legally through a leasing arrangement with title-holding landlords and dismissed the allegations of land irregularities as baseless and harmful to both business and livelihoods.
Established in 2002, Kencont CFS is a key player in Kenya’s cargo handling and customs clearance sector. The facility hosts several government agencies, including the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), making its role vital in trade facilitation.
The company is among the assets linked to Gideon Moi, inherited from his late father, former President Daniel arap Moi. Repeated efforts to get a response from Gideon Moi were unsuccessful, as calls to his known contacts went unanswered.
A senior police officer based in Mombasa confirmed the operation, attributing it to Kenya Railways Police, but declined to elaborate on the legal basis or provide further details.
Industry players have voiced concern over the raid’s implications for the logistics sector, especially at a time when Kenya is focused on improving efficiency at its ports. Kencont has vowed to fight the claims through legal channels and insists that its operations are fully compliant with national regulations.
The dispute adds a new layer to ongoing tensions surrounding land ownership and state-linked enforcement actions, with observers calling for transparency and dialogue to prevent further disruption in the sector.
By Nation