Workers strike halts trade at Mombasa port

Workers at the Mombasa port container terminal on Friday began a five days strike demanding explanations on their terms of service after the facility is privatised.

Area politicians are also demanding the degazettement of the facility.

The Dock Workers Union are demanding a statement from (Kenya Ports Authority) KPA on terms of the proposed privatisation that was temporarily put on halt early this year.

The port terminal disruption of schedule for a couple of hours leads to a backlog of containers in ships that need to be offloaded for imports or loaded for export.

During the official launch of the port dredging project on July 5, Transport minister Amos Kimunya reignited the privatisation debate when he hinted that the process would go on, a sentiment that did not gone down well with workers.

“We want the government to tell us whether the port is being sold or not because the signs we have seen do not go with what KPA management is telling us. If the port is sold more than 3000 workers will be retrenched,” DWU general secretary Simon Sang told workers who had gathered outside KPA headquarters.

The union also wants 3,128 workers on contract basis but have worked for between five and 15 years to be employed on permanent terms.

Two MPs – Ramadhan Kajembe (Changamwe), Masoud Mwahima (Likoni) and Mombasa mayor Ahmed Mondhar arrived at the port to address the workers.

They later had a meeting with KPA management.

Despite managing director Gichiri Ndua’s assurance that the process had been stopped, the MPs demanded a notice be published to that effect.

“We are in government and we know that port is being sold but we will not allow it to happen,” said Mr Kajembe.

Early this year, Privatization Commission of Kenya executive director Solomon Kitungu denied there were plans of privatising the port, and issued a press statement saying he was “not aware of any approved privatisation plans for Mombasa port operations.”

The leaders said Mr Kimunya and his permanent secretary Cyrus Njiru had refused to engage them as well as union officials in talks over the matter.

Briefing the press at his boardroom earlier, Mr Ndua said KPA was restructuring its operations and denied that there were plans to sack workers.

“After privatisation was stopped, we are unable to start operations at the Eldoret Container Depot enabling us to employ more people. So, the reality is we have denied our people better opportunities,” he said.

“Berths 11 to 14 were supposed to be reconstructed to handle containers through a private partnership, however, this project requires about Sh15 billion. The project has stalled for lack of funds," the MD added.

By the time of going to press, KPA management was still holed up in a meeting with the politicians and union officials.