Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad has restated his opposition to the National Government’s alleged plan to privatize the Port of Mombasa.
The governor emphasized his commitment to the growth and development of the coastal county, but he refuses to support a plan that sidelines Mombasa residents.
The governor explained that the port city should have a significant role in the port’s affairs, including representation, a stake, or ownership, during an appearance on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show early Tuesday.
He emphasized that the port’s operations should benefit the people of Mombasa first and foremost, and he strongly warned against any privatization attempts.
“I called in leadership affiliated with us as a party, and I asked them if they were aware or if the issue had gone to Parliament, but they said that the issue had never been to Parliament,” he revealed.
Nassir insisted that the livelihoods of the people of Mombasa are inextricably linked to the port, and that he will not remain silent if decisions affecting his constituents are made without their knowledge.
“You can’t plan for people without their representatives. Yesterday I had a meeting with the dock workers union who have also not been made aware nor involved in this whole process,” he said.
In response to the question of transferring county functions, the administrator stated that only the McMillan Memorial Library had been transferred to the County Government to date.
He expressed disappointment with the National Government’s delay in devolving the remaining functions, implying that earlier action could have resulted in significant benefits for the County.
“In fact whatever has been transferred including the costing which hasn’t been done properly, is the library alone. If this was done earlier you can imagine what could have been able to be done,” he remarked.
Chairperson of the Inter-Governmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), Kithinji Kiragu who was also in the panel, defended the delay in meeting the deadline set by President William Ruto for transferring devolved functions.
He emphasized the need for collaboration between the two levels of government and called for acknowledgment of the complexity of the process.
“Even where we are now, if the President was not committed, we wouldn’t have gotten here. This is a long drawn process. The two levels of Government have to work together and there are many parties involved in this. There is no magic bullet, there is a process,” the chair stated.
President Ruto had previously pledged to expedite the transfer of all devolved functions to counties within 60 days during the 8th devolution conference in Eldoret.
There has been however, dissatisfaction in the counties in the delay in transferring all the devolved functions.
