Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir has said coast residents and leaders will vehemently oppose the privatisation of the Port of Mombasa.
The governor warned that privatisation of the port will lead to the loss of job opportunities for local youths.
“Word is that they want to privatise the Port of Mombasa. Let them not think that since I am no longer an MP, I do not know what they are planning,” Nassit vowed.
Addressing Azimio’s People’s Baraza in Likoni on Sunday, he said Coast residents are the biggest stakeholders in the Port of Mombasa and warned privatising it will result in job losses.
“There is no two way about it. We will not negotiate about it,” the governor said.
The Port of Mombasa is one of the largest cargo terminals in the world.
But recently there has been a plan to privatise some of the container handling. This has sparked a division between government officials and coastal leaders.
Those against the proposals are worried about the economic impact and possible loss of job opportunities for locals.
Nassir said the national government should redirect its resources to raging issues such as the drug menace at the coast.
“We have a drug problem at the coast and we are demanding security agencies to arrest those selling drugs to our youth. The drug problem is more than banditry or terrorism,” he said.
The county boss also said that the country is headed in the wrong direction and called leaders to put the country back on track.
