The Okoa Mombasa Coalition has said no amount of intimidation will stop them from fighting to save Mombasa and the Coast region from economic sabotage.
The coalition, which includes economist David Ndii, constitutional expert Yash Pal Ghai and rights activist Maina Kiai, was on Saturday barred from accessing a venue they had paid for.
Members have said the coalition will sue the Technical University of Mombasa for denying them access to the venue they had paid for to launch their outfit.
They said the launch will has now been pushed to next weekend.
The TUM management on Saturday made an about-turn and denied the coalition members access to one of its halls.
They cited security reasons.
However, the Star has seen receipts and correspondence that indicate the coalition paid Sh25,000 for the venue and that the university management had okayed the meeting.
Registrar in charge of Administration and Planning Kilungu Matata, in a letter dated October 17, said the coalition’s request to hire the university hall had been approved.
The request was received by the university the same day it was made; October 17.
The coalition, in the request letter, said, “This will be a public event at which we hope to discuss devolution and its impact on Mombasa and the country at large.”
Matata said this was subject to conditions including payment of the Sh25,000 hiring fees, covering the cost of university property lost or damaged during the function, ensuring the function ends by 2pm and keeping the university environment clean.
“By copy of this letter, the security officer is requested to ensure the maintenance of law and order and provide you with the necessary assistance,” Matata wrote in the letter.
On Saturday, however, the coalition members, Muslims for Human Rights chair Khelef Khalifa and many other transporters, truckers and activists were denied access to the venue at 8am.
They were told there had been a change of plans.
The coalition believes this was an ‘order from above’ adding that some top government officials are afraid Mombasa residents will be enlightened on the need to fight to defend their rights.
“This means that someone somewhere is not doing the right thing. Only those who have things to hide can infringe of the rights of others,” Kiai said.
The coalition was formed on August 2 in response to the implementation of two key policy decisions.
These include the directive forcing Kenya-bound cargo to be shipped from Mombasa port via SGR and the move to privatise the Mombasa port’s Container Terminal 2.
Ndii maintained that the SGR project is not economically viable.
“It has been demonstrated now and accepted by government and written in a government report that this railway cannot service its debts. That is something we said from the outset,” Ndii said.
Ghai said the government made unconstitutional decisions and is trying to force the decision on Kenyans.
The coalition has now set in motion mechanisms to sue the TUM for denying them access to the hall despite paying for it.
“They have to pay for all the expenses we incurred in preparing for the launch which they aborted in the last minute. The cost runs into millions,” a member of the coalition said.
This includes paying for flight tickets for Kiai who had to come from the US for the event, they said.
Khalifa said there has been a surge of propaganda spread through social media to discredit the coalition and its cause.
He believes the propaganda originates from senior government officials.
“We are undeterred because the government is terribly afraid of what we are agitating for – local participation for local resources,” Khalifa said.
Edited by R.Wamochie
