It's a big win for Ruto with ripple effects among those hurt by the directive to transfer most cargo from Mombasa Port to the Inland Container Depot in Naivasha.
In May, the union had pledged their support for Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance saying it is the best suited political outfit to deal with workers' issues.
However on Wednesday, the Dock Workers Union secretary general Simon Sang said they were convinced Kenya Kwanza will form the next government and they do not want to be left out.
The union has about 7,000 members.
“On Friday, we will meet our members to discuss the way forward. However, as it stands now, DWU supports Kenya Kwanza,” Sang told a press conference.
He said they will also meet other organisations, including the Kenya Transporters Association, Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (Kifwa) and the Seafarers Union to rally support for Kenya Kwanza.
Sang said seafarers, dock workers, clearing agents, truckers and many services have been hurt by the transfer of port services from Mombasa to the interior via the SGR.
He said they need to speak in unison so their voice can be heard after the general election on Tuesday next week.
“From September, we will start pushing for a lot of reforms. We need to speak as a team so we can be part and parcel of the policy changes after the August 9 polls," he said.
Speaking to Star in a phone interview, Sang said although both Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja have promised to return port services to Mombasa, the two coalitions might not have an in-depth understanding of port operations.
“What we want to establish is the element of public participation and the Dock Workers Union is better placed to ensure policies favour port employees and all those whose work is related to port,” he said.
Deputy President Ruto and Azimio la Umoja Coalition leader Raila Odinga have promised to revert port operations to Mombasa after the Jubilee government transferred the operations to Nairobi and Naivasha in 2018.
Ruto and Raila are expected back in Mombasa on Thursday and Friday, respectively, and the campaign will be about port matters.
At previous rallies, Ruto said he will return port services to Mombasa, through an executive order immediately after he is sworn into office.
Raila said he will return port operations within 100 days.
Sang said the DWU needs to be part and parcel of all the decisions that the next government will be making that affect port operations.
He has worked at the Kenya Ports Authority for 22 years and has been an official of the DWU for 16 years.
“I have experience spanning 38 years in port matters. We need to be at the discussion table when the next government is formed,” he said.
Sang said, for example, Kenya pays more than Sh432 billion annually to vessels that import and export cargo.
He said the national government would be saving a lot of money if the Kenya National Shipping Line operated its own vessels.
“A country like Ethiopia, which is landlocked, has about 11 ships. The Kenyan government would be cashing on the monies paid to ships either for export or import if the government owned its own vessels,” he said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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