As the August elections approach, residents of Mombasa have expressed their frustration with politicians who they claim are only interested in seeking their votes without addressing their concerns.
According to the residents, the politicians have been ignoring their pleas to discuss the management of the port and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which they say has been detrimental to the county's economy.
“Where were they when the whole issue was being discussed? We were holding demonstrations every Monday to protest the government's decision to relocate the port and SGR services, but the politicians ignored us. Now they are asking for our votes, and we are supposed to believe that they will restore our port to its former glory,” said Naila Abdallah, Executive Director of Sisters for Justice.
Abdallah was supported by Francis Auma, an Emergency Response Officer at Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri), who said that what the county needs is an alternative plan that will ensure Mombasa County benefits from the port's revenue and also creates job opportunities for the youth.