Those are rumours! Mohammed Ali says on port privatisation

Nyali MP Mohammed Ali has dismissed claims of privatisation of  Mombasa port.

While speaking on Wednesday, Mohammed Ali said that those who are claiming that do not have facts.

He added that the government has allowed concessions where both the local and international investors will benefit.

"I think it is all about rumour-mongering if you see leaders saying the port is being privatised those are rumour-mongering people who don't have facts with them," he said.

"The reality is that there is no port privatisation, there is nothing like that. There is what we call concession which means KPA can go ahead and welcome local and International to invest there." 

The MP added that when there is a partnership like that, the locals benefit from it because it is still their investment.

"We have another port in Lamu and it is just lying like that, just a few activities here and there and when we are opening it up, it is for both local and International to come and invest," he added.

"Where there is investment the government gets its own tax, people get employed and go on as long as laws are followed." 

This sentiment comes as Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir maintains that the government will not privatise the port of Mombasa.

Nassir said that Mombasa residents will not benefit after privatisation.

"We are not opposed to development, but we speak on behalf of millions of residents who may not be able to speak for themselves. We ask what is in it for the people of Mombasa in the privatization of their Port?" He said.

However, Mohammed Ali took issue with Governor Nassir accusing him of lying to the people on port privatisation.

"The governor is acting weird. The last time we saw trade CS Moses Kuria going to Miritini  where they are doing the industrial park and the governor himself has invited international investors to come and invest at the park, why did he invite them?" He said.

He added that the governor is questioning the government's move to employ international investors while he is doing the same thing.

"No one is selling the port because the port belongs to the government and the government is the people of Kenya," he said.

He said that if there were any attempts to privatize and harm the people he would have been the first to know and the first to speak against.

On September 25, Kenya Ports Authority board chairman Benjamin Tayari clarified that the national government has no plans to privatise critical facilities at the ports of Mombasa and Lamu.

The facilities that KPA intends to place under private firms are four berths (11-14) at the port of Mombasa and the Mombasa Port Container Terminal 1.

At Lamu port, KPA will hand over the three container terminals at berths 1-3 and the Lamu Special Economic Zone.

"The stories you’ve been reading in the newspapers and the media about privatisation of the port are not true.  One thing that I want to say and confirm is that KPA is not doing any privatisation," Tayari said.

"What we are doing is something called concession.  There's a very big difference between the privatisation and concession."

The MP said he is working closely with the government to open up job opportunities for Mombasa residents and improve the economy.

"In the world of international trade, port concession agreements are the gateway to global markets," he said.

The legislator added that there will be a meeting among all coastal leaders at the port to deliberate on the issues.