Coast Leaders oppose the development and operations of port assets through PPPs

Sep 19, 2023 - 17:33

Four Ship-to-Shore Gantry cranes (STS) arrive at the port of Mombasa in August.(Photo courtesy of KPA).

Mombasa,

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

KNA by Sadik Hassan

A section of Coast leaders are opposing KPA's move to develop and operate some ports of Mombasa and Lamu assets through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) pacts.

On September 6 KPA Managing Director Capt William Ruto invited sealed bids from eligible entrepreneurs for the qualification of bidders for the development and operation of Port assets through PPP.

Lamu Port Container Terminal Berth 1-3, Lamu Special Economic Zone Mombasa Port Berth 11-14 and Mombasa Container Terminal 1 are earmarked to be developed and operated through PPP.

Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi said the port of Mombasa is profitable and should be left to be run by professionals, the government should wait for revenues.

“The government should desist from talks on privatization because we are not ready for them. Let us also have assets to benefit,” said Mwinyi.

Speaking during the commissioning of a swimming pool project in his constituency attended by the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula. Mwinyi also opposed the proposed takeover of Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited by the Kenya Petroleum Company.

Mvita MP Mohamed Machele, a former KPA security officer urged Wetangula to stand with the Coastal people on the proposed port privatization akin to how he stood with sugar companies in the Western region.

“We don’t have farms we rely on the port. In the last ten years, the port has not recruited staff. We saw the advert on privatization without consulting local leaders, we received calls from our constituents on the same. They was no public participation,” said Machele.

The Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG) Chairman Danson Mwashako said they will meet as elected parliamentarians to chart a way forward on the privatization of port assets. The meeting will involve port management and stakeholders.

Mombasa County Assembly Speaker Aharub Khatri said the KPA move will have ripple effects on Mombasa's economy especially on businesses relying on port operations.

“If the port is privatised people of Mombasa won’t be able to secure jobs. I have not seen the port making loss it always records profits. Why would a parastatal doing well be privatized?” he asked.

Courtesy; KNA