RMIT University has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), strengthening collaboration on research, industry engagement, and capability building focused on East Africa’s maritime and freight networks.
The agreement builds on an existing relationship between RMIT’s College of Business and Law and the KPA and was formalised during a visit to Melbourne by Kenya’s High Commissioner to Australia, Dr Wilson Kogo, and KPA managing director captain William Ruto.
RMIT deputy vice-chancellor, college of business and law, Professor Colin Picker, said the agreement combines the expertise of both organisations.
“This MoU brings together the strengths of both our institutions – world-class research capabilities, industry-engaged learning, global networks and KPA’s operational leadership in one of East Africa’s most critical trade gateways,” Picker said.
“I’m confident our shared goals will deliver positive outcomes for both of our institutions and the broader maritime and port industry.”
Captain William Ruto said the agreement reflects KPA’s commitment to working with international research institutions to address regional transport challenges.
“We share the view that East Africa’s future competitiveness will depend on greater coordination across infrastructure, policy and logistics systems,” Ruto said.
“Through this collaboration with RMIT University, we aim to contribute to evidence-based interventions that address corridor bottlenecks, improve supply chain efficiency, lower the cost of doing business and support sustainable economic growth across the region.”
The MoU coincides with the release of a new RMIT policy paper, Beyond Borders: Building Integrated Transport Corridors for Regional Competitiveness in East Africa, which examines the governance and coordination issues affecting freight efficiency and regional trade.
Authored by Professors Victor Gekara, Mathews Nkhoma and Prem Chhetri, the report argues that investment in ports, rail and road infrastructure alone will not resolve transport challenges without stronger coordination between governments, institutions and transport systems.
According to the report, fragmented transport planning and competing national priorities continue to increase logistics costs, slow freight movements and reduce regional competitiveness, placing additional pressure on major gateway ports including Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. A key recommendation is adopting a “co-opetition” model, where countries cooperate on shared infrastructure and regulatory frameworks while maintaining commercial competition.
Professor Victor Gekara said a more integrated approach will be needed to support future trade growth.
“Regional growth in the coming decades will depend on our ability to move beyond fragmented national approaches and toward more coordinated, cross-border frameworks that align infrastructure, governance, and policy across the region,” Gekara said.
The full report can be found here.
