Uproar over plan to privatize port operations at KPA
An advertisement for tender to privatize port operations at the Kenya Ports Authority -KPA has caused an uproar among elected leaders drawn from the coast region at the weekend.
Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki echoed sentiments made by Mvita MP Machele Mahmoud Soud, to oppose plans to privatize a section of port operations.
He said the operations at the port of Mombasa are the backbone of Mombasa County economy.
“Not even a single day has the facility been declared a defunct state corporation to deserve being privatized,” he said.
Faki pointed out the port facility is among the government’s profitable business organizations in Kenya.
He was speaking during the commissioning of Changamwe swimming pool project in Changamwe constituency, Mombasa county. National assembly speaker Moses Wetangula presided over the commissioning ceremony.
Mohamed said to make matters worse the authority has not defaulted in paying its creditors to be subjected to privatization.
He argued it’s wrong for the government to compare KPA with sugar companies which have unpaid debts.
“The government is out to offset the loss of the sugar-belt cane companies to revive them,” he said.
Machele who started the debate urged Wetangula to intervene to save the locals from the government’s intention to privatize the port.
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He said they were involved in the decision and to make it worse there was no public participation.
‘’Employment opportunities are threatened by the government move which poses as a danger,” he said.
On his part, Wetangula has assured coastal elected leaders in the meeting that he will pursue their issues with the Head of State upon his arrival back from an overseas trip.
He pointed out that he will inform him of the port privatization issue and on the defunct state-owned Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited challenges.
“I promise to organize a roundtable forum with President Ruto to have an open conversation with him to understand you better,” he told them.
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