Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has strongly opposed the government’s plans to pritivatise the Mombasa Port.
In a resolute stand against the government’s proposed plans, Nassir questioned the feasibility of the proposal to lease some of the assets of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to private firms.
“Leave Mombasa Port alone. Go privatise Kenya Airways. Hatuwezi kubebwa kifalafala na bandari,” he said.
“If we discuss the ability of planes to land in Mombasa, we’re told that Kenya Airways is considered. Yet today, they seek to privatize the Kenya Ports Authority,” he further stated.
He questioned the government’s intention to privatize the port, saying it will affect Mombasa residents negatively.
“They do not have good intentions… if they could sell the water in the ocean they would have already done it,” he said during an address at Mvita on Tuesday.
The governor vowed to oppose the plans, despite fears from his team that his resistance will land him (Nassir) in trouble.
“Tell me, what has the national government done for the people of Mombasa? We will master the voice of the people against the voice of dictatorship,” he said, urging the community hold their leaders accountable.
Nassir’s protest follows reports that the government is in a bid to lease some of KPA’s key assets to private firms and individuals.
KPA Managing Director William Ruto on Monday placed bids for the operation of key facilities at the Mombasa and Lamu ports.
At the Mombasa port, berths 11-14 and container terminal one are among the facilities up for privatisation.
