Ruto dismisses Joho's claim on transfer of port services

Deputy President William Ruto with Tourism CS Najib Balala at a Jubilee Party campaign rally in Junda in Kisauni, Mombasa on July 6, 2017. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The Mombasa governor is opposed to a plan by the government to build a dry port in Naivasha.
  • He says doing so will render thousands of Mombasa residents jobless.

Deputy President William Ruto and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala on Thursday dismissed Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s claim that the government intends to transfer port services to Naivasha.

“Your governor says the Jubilee government wants to move the port to Naivasha. How can a port be transferred to a place that does not have water? He is saying that because he has little education,” said Mr Ruto. The sentiments were echoed by the minister.

Mr Joho has publicly admitted that he scored grade D- in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination.

The county boss is opposed to a plan by the government to build a dry port in Naivasha, saying it would render thousands of Mombasa residents jobless and cripple the economy of the region.

CAMPAIGN AGENDA

The government says apart from Mombasa, other ports would be built in Voi, Kisumu and other towns.

The port issue has been a campaign agenda for the ruling Jubilee and the National Super Alliance.

Mr Ruto said plans to build the ports and create free economic zones on the Northern Corridor were at an advanced stage.

The two leaders were accompanied by the party’s Mombasa governor hopeful Suleiman Shahbal.

He said the standard gauge railway would improve the economy of the country.

“We have also improved roads and are planning to start export processing zones,” he said.

Reports by Lucas Barasa, Daniel Nyassy, Fredrick Fadhili and Lucy Mkanyika.