Dockworkers up in arms over bid to privatise port

The Dockworkers Union has threatened to paralyse operations at Mombasa port over plans to privatise it.

Secretary-general Simon Sang warned that if the government does not degazette the privatisation, his union would ensure operations at the port grind to a halt.

“First, we will conduct several meetings in Kisauni, Likoni and Mvita before halting operations at the port if the government does not listen to cries of its people,” he said.

He said 7,330 employees of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) would not sit back and allow a few disgruntled elements tamper with one of the biggest resources in the region.

Three MPs have opposed the privatisation of the port, saying this would adversely affect the Mombasa County’s natural resources.

Speaking at Chaani Grounds on Sunday, MPs Ramadhan Kajembe (Changamwe), Masoud Mwahima (Likoni) and Hassan Joho (Kisauni) asked the government to degazette the privatisation of the facility.

“The port of Mombasa is a state-of-the-art facility, which has given this country income to the tune of Sh5 billion yearly,” they said, adding that only non-performing ports worldwide were privatised.

The lawmakers were disappointed that the government did not seek the views of the indigenous people on its plans to privatise the port.

Mr Kajembe said he would seek audience with the two principals on the need to drop the privatisation plans.

“Sixty per cent of those who work at the port hail from my constituency and I cannot keep quiet when their livelihood is threatened by this privatisation,” he said.

The Environment assistant minister called on the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate KPA, claiming it was awarding tenders or contracts to well-connected individuals.