Mombasa - SABA-GIFCO Limited (Mombasa) (Formerly known as GIFCO Kenya Ltd)
SABA-GIFCO Limited (Formerly GIFCO Kenya Ltd.) operates as a regional logistics and freight forwarding provider with origins tracing back to a 2012 merger between Saba Group Kuwait and Gifco Group Lebanon. The combined entity focuses on delivering comprehensive supply chain and forwarding services across East Africa, with a multi-facility footprint that supports a broad range of logistics needs. The company’s Kenya operations are anchored in Mombasa, occupying space in the central business district to handle customs declarations, finance, port operations, and related logistics functions, while maintaining its own container fleet (dry and reefer) and connected support equipment like clip-on gensets. A substantial staging yard in Kampala, measuring about 50,000 square meters, extends the group’s capacity with additional offices, workshops, storage facilities, and handling equipment, enabling effective loading, offloading, and temperature-controlled transport across its network.
The corporate group emphasizes a full spectrum of forwarding and supply chain services. Core offerings include customs clearance, ocean freight and air freight, as well as rail and trucking solutions designed to facilitate door-to-door logistics. The company also highlights specialized handling for out-of-gauge and heavy lift cargo, which is commonly associated with project cargo movements, and temperature-controlled transportation for perishable goods. This mix positions SABA-GIFCO as a versatile partner for clients with complex logistics requirements that span multiple modes of transport.
In addition to standard freight services, SABA-GIFCO provides handling for oil and gas operations, reflecting sector-specific capability that aligns with industry demand in the East Africa region. The organization underscores its commitment to process discipline and client protection, aiming to ensure safe and timely delivery of goods. Its equipment roster includes modern reefer trailers with precise temperature control, movement tracking devices (such as IVMS), and a focus on regulatory compliance with QHSSE standards. Insurance coverage for Haulier’s liability up to USD 150,000 per cargo helps mitigate risk for clients during haulage operations.
The company’s ISO certifications—ISO 9001:2015 for quality management, ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management, and OHSAS 18001:2007 for occupational health and safety—reflect an emphasis on systematic management practices and continuous improvement. Historical performance metrics include recognition by industry stakeholders, such as Shell, illustrating adherence to quality, safety, and regulatory requirements within the region.
SABA-GIFCO states its strategic presence across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and broader East Africa, with broader engagement in the Middle East and Southeast Africa through its partner networks. The company notes participation in international freight forwarding networks, highlighting its role within a wider ecosystem of agents and service providers. What results is a logistics organization capable of integrating multiple modes of transport, specialized cargo handling, warehousing, and distribution with a regional reach that supports both import and export activities.
Operationally, SABA-GIFCO emphasizes a commitment to delivering door-to-door logistics solutions, including packing, pick-up, and delivery, consolidated documentation, and customs clearance across non-hazardous and hazardous goods categories. The emphasis on warehousing and lifting equipment underscores the capability to manage storage, staging, and fulfillment requirements, complementing transport services. As the East Africa corridor continues to evolve, the company positions itself as a multi-modal forwarder with a track record of serving multinational clients and supporting heavy lift, temperature-controlled, and project-related logistics.
Overall, SABA-GIFCO Limited presents a profile of a regional freight forwarder with diversified capabilities spanning air and ocean freight, rail and road transport, customs work, and specialized cargo handling, supported by a robust asset base, standardized management systems, and regional network reach. The entity’s Kenya operations in Mombasa, alongside its Kampala staging capacity and regional footprint, demonstrate an integrated approach to supply chain management designed to address the needs of a wide range of industries, including sectors requiring temperature control, heavy lift, and project cargo expertise.
