Ever wondered what happens at the seaport before your container reaches an Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Kenya? At the Port of Mombasa, one of the final, critical moves is made by a gantry operator like Fatuma Bakari.
She sits high above the ground, at the bustling Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Mombasa, where ships dock, and cargo flows through Kenya’s gateway to trade.
“The machine we operate is a Rail Mounted Gantry, which is used to move containers from the terminal tractor and place them onto the rail or bogies, heading to Nairobi or Naivasha,” said Fatuma Bakari. Every time a container is loaded onto a train bound for Nairobi or Naivasha, she is often one of the final hands guiding that journey.
Fatuma’s story is one of passion discovered early and nurtured over time. “I was very young girl when I joined in 2001,” she recalls.
“I chose engineering.” At a time when few women ventured into technical fields, Fatuma embraced the challenge.
Through the KPA career development and training programme, she trained at Bandari College, building the skills that would define her career. It was within the port environment that she discovered her love for gantry operations machines that demand focus, coordination and technical expertise.
Today, she is an experienced gantry operator, ensuring containers are safely transferred from terminal tractors onto rail wagons, keeping the logistics chain moving efficiently.
For Fatuma, the job goes beyond machinery and engineering; it is about purpose and giving back through mentorship and training in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
“I will retire in 2033, and I still have the strength to go beyond the remaining years. Operating machines is not difficult,” she says, encouraging the youth to step into the field with confidence.
As the world reflects on International Women’s Day 2026, Fatuma represents the many women in Maritime and STEM powering the nation’s economy.
From her elevated vantage point, she is not just moving cargo; she is helping build Kenya, one cargo container at a time.
