According to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, essential operations have been returned to the Mombasa port, in accordance with a campaign promise made by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The Deputy President stated during the opening of the 2022 Mombasa International Show on Thursday that they had kept their word and that the port, as well as the seaside city, were gradually returning to full strength.
“The president issued the order on the first day in office and I confirm the operations are now back in Mombasa,” Gachagua said.
He stated that the Kenya Kwanza administration will always defend the port’s status as a national resource that benefits not only the coastal region but the entire nation.
Dr. Ruto had promised that if elected, port operations would be relocated to Mombasa from Naivasha. Following this pledge, the President issued an order to enforce it on September 1st, his first day in office.
Since the operations, including critical clearing and forwarding, were relocated to Naivasha, local leaders have urged the previous administration to reverse the initial decisions that relocated operations away from Mombasa.
Gachagua, who stated that he would be returning to the coast soon to tour the port, stated that their administration will always safeguard the rights of all citizens, including those living in the coastal region.
“The port belongs to all Kenyans, not some few individuals. We thank the Kenya Ports of Authority Board of Directors for standing against attempts to fully transfer the operations,” the DP said.
He stated that their government was eager to collaborate with the residents and that a number of senior positions, including Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and key Parliamentary positions, had been assigned to leaders from the region.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir confirmed that clearing and forwarding operations had returned to the coastal city.
“I had a meeting with port officials on Wednesday and I can confirm that indeed port operations are back to our city. We are grateful to the Government for ensuring this happened,” he said.
