Workers Fault Alleged Plan to Hand Over Mombasa Port to UAE Investors

By Tobby Otum

Dockworkers Union [DWU] has waded into the controversy surrounding the relinquishing of ownership and control of three critical ports and supporting infrastructure of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) at the port of Mombasa to a Dubai-headquartered company.

DWU secretary general Simon Sang said it appears there are contradicting statements on the saga and that as stakeholders they are concerned about the matter.

He said they have  written a letter to Treasury Cabinet Secretary Amb Ukur Yatani to seek clarification and they have given him seven days to respond failure to which they will move to court to challenge the government decision.

‘’The Dubai investor has a tainted image and we vow to oppose the government decision unless there is a special arrangement where the company will not have an upper hand in the control of business operations at the port of  Mombasa,” he pointed out.

Sang insisted unless the government comes up with special arrangements on the special economic zone for the foreign investors to come on board they will not support the move.  

He was addressing a media briefing held at the union headquarters along Jomo Kenyatta Avenue in Mombasa county.

The DWU Secretary General told journalists their argument is based on the track record from other ports where similar arrangements took place.   

Sang who was accompanied by DWU executive board member Mohamed Mwinyi argued if the government insists the investors must come on board to support  the special economic zone they must also come up with a structure in place.

He further argued the government must conduct public participation through the formation of a task force.

“The process should be halted until after the forthcoming General Election and when the next  government takes over,” he pointed out.

The DWU spokesperson asked Kenya Kwanza to stop politicking about the proposed controversial move to seek political mileage ahead of next month’s polls.       

Sang accused them of raising emotions over things they did not understand for the sake of wooing voters ahead of this year’s polls.

“Let them desist talking about port operations to cause confusion and anxiety ahead of the August polls,” he pointed out . 

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