This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
On October 5, 2019, a heated press conference was held in Mombasa by a group of civil society activists and transporters to demand the actualisation of an order to stop forcing importers to haul cargo from Mombasa Port via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line.
During the conference, Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo was forced to cut short his speech after saying President Uhuru Kenyatta was concerned with the SGR cargo handling stalemate. The activists, however, were not convinced by Mbogo's words, with Organising First Business Community organising secretary Harriet Muganda interrupting him and telling him off over his utterances sanitising the government.
''We are not here to congratulate anyone especially the President whose government is stifling Coast traders through this illegal directive that has no basis in modern-day world,'' Muganda said.
Mbogo had told those present that the government was committed in resolving the matter over SGR directive and should be given time to act on the issue. However, the activists were not having it, with Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri) chairman Khalef Khalifa stating that MPs can choose to talk to the government but they (civil society) will not renege on their campaigns for justice.
''We do not want to be told that the government is concerned. They know what they have done and know everything. The order on SGR is an executive one and you should not lie to us that the President is concerned,'' Khalifa said.
Philip Jagero, in charge of legal affairs at the First Business Community, said they are contemplating seeking legal redress against the government for initiating economic atrocities against the people of Mombasa and its environs.
The civil society activists rubbished the suspension of the SGR order, alleging that while they welcomed the announcement, it remained illegal, therefore should be rescinded altogether.
