The Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (SCEA) has appointed Elizabeth Kimkung as its new chairperson at a time when geopolitical tensions, port congestion and rising regulatory pressures continue to weigh on the region’s logistics sector.
Kimkung, the general manager of Freight Forwarder Kenya Limited, succeeds John Msafari, the group administrative director at Alpha Group.
The SCEA board elected her chairperson alongside Peter Busolo, who takes over as vice chairperson, on August 5, 2026.
Her appointment comes as the shipping and logistics industry grapples with disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, growing cargo volumes at the Port of Mombasa and concerns over capacity constraints and delays.
SCEA chief executive Agayo Ogambi said Kimkung’s leadership would be critical in helping the industry navigate the increasingly uncertain operating environment.
“Kimkung comes in when geopolitics and maritime continue to face unprecedented uncertainty, especially with the on-off Middle East crisis,” Ogambi said.
He said the sector was also facing challenges at the Port of Mombasa, where increased throughput was coming against capacity constraints, resulting in delays.
Ogambi also raised concerns over the re-emergence of multiple government agencies at the port, despite a 2020 government directive seeking to limit the number of agencies intervening in cargo clearance and port operations.
“She is expected to shepherd and provide leadership in addressing this and many emerging regulatory charges being witnessed in the country,” Ogambi said.
The new chairperson also takes over as the country approaches the next election, which SCEA says could have implications for regional cargo flows.
Ogambi said transit cargo accounts for about 30 per cent of traffic handled through the Port of Mombasa, making political stability critical for Kenya and neighbouring economies that rely on the port.
“A peaceful election is key to our nations and regional economies. As such, the government and opposition leaders must endeavour to promote peaceful campaigns before, during and after the elections,” he said.
Kimkung brings more than two decades of experience spanning law, administration, logistics and corporate governance.
She is a lawyer and holds a Master of Business Administration from USIU-Africa and a Bachelor of Arts in International Business Administration from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.
She is also pursuing a PhD in environmental law at the University of Nairobi and serves on several boards.
Before taking over as chairperson, Kimkung served as SCEA’s vice chairperson, giving her an understanding of the council’s advocacy agenda and the challenges confronting cargo owners.
SCEA said her experience and strategic insight would strengthen its efforts to push for a more efficient and competitive logistics environment.
“The board congratulates both leaders and looks forward to their guidance as SCEA advocates for reliable, efficient, secure and competitive logistics,” the organisation said.
The council represents cargo owners across Eastern Africa and advocates for policy and regulatory reforms covering all modes of freight transportation and trade facilitation.
Its agenda includes improving logistics efficiency, reducing the cost of moving goods and creating a more predictable regulatory environment for businesses involved in regional and international trade.
The leadership change therefore comes at a crucial period for Kenya’s logistics industry, with shippers seeking faster cargo clearance, reduced delays and greater predictability as Mombasa handles rising volumes.
For Kimkung, the immediate challenge will be to translate SCEA’s advocacy role into practical reforms that can ease pressure on the port and wider supply chain while protecting the competitiveness of Kenya as a regional logistics hub.
