This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
On October 3, 2019, Mombasa County Governor Hassan Joho, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, and Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Transport James Macharia briefed the media on the mandatory transportation of containers to Nairobi using the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the privatization of cargo services at Mombasa Port at Harambee House offices.
Following talks with the leaders, the government yesterday suspended a directive requiring importers to use the SGR to transport all containers from the Mombasa port. The traders on Monday staged a demonstration against the government over a decision to transport all containers from Kilindini harbour to Nairobi Inland Container Deport.
Yesterday's deal was arrived at following a meeting between the leaders, who included Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and other Coast MPs, with Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and Transport's James Macharia at Harambee House. Others present included Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Daniel Manduku and his Kenya Railways counterpart Philip Mainga.
According to Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, the leaders agreed that the directive from the Ministry of Transport would immediately be suspended. Macharia had earlier announced that he had withdrawn the directive, but the leaders told him it was still in force.
“We agreed that the CS and his team will ensure this order is no longer in force. He will subsequently issue a Press statement to that effect,” revealed Mr Nassir.
Macharia admitted that the directive had been issued without proper consultation, prompting the government to withdraw it. “Today I re-affirmed to the governor and leaders from Mombasa that is the position for now, nothing will change,” said Macharia.
He added: “We know the port of Mombasa cannot survive independently. We are conscious and doing other projects in the region such as airport, where we are increasing airlines and highways among others. We want to ensure success of the port and greater benefit to the people.”
Coast leaders, led by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, expressed optimism that President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration would ensure the directive was lifted. “In the past, the President never gave me access. He would block roads so that we did not meet. But that is no more... We are going to speak to each other to look for a solution,” said Joho.
