- He also explained that the city port should have a significant role including represantation,a stake or ownership and port affairs.
- He insisted that the livelihoods of Mombasa residents is always linked to the port.
Image: HANDOUT
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has restated his opposition to national government's alleged plans to privatise Mombasa port.
Speaking on tuesday during an appearance on Citizen TV’s daybreak show,he emphasized his commitment to the growth and development of Mombasa county but refused to support plans that sidelines residents.
The governor said that the only thing he is against is having a private entity running the port without the knowledge of what they are going to do.
He also explained that the port should have a significant role including represantation,a stake or ownership and port affairs.
Nassir emphasized that the port's operations should benefit the people of Mombasa and warned against any privatisation attempts.
"I called leadership affiliated with us as a party and asked them if they were aware or if the privitisation issue plan had been taken to the parliament for discussion but they said the issue had never been taken there,"he said.
He insisted that the livelihoods of Mombasa residents is always tied to the Port and they will not remain silent if decisions are made without the knowledge of the county government.
"You cannot plan for people without their representatives. Yesterday I had a meeting with the Dock Workers Union and they are also not aware of the ongoing plan to privatise Mombasa Port,"Nassir said.
Nassir also expressed his disappointment on the national government's delay in devolving and transferring functions implying that if actions could have been made earlier,it would have resulted in significant benefits to the county.
"Whatever has been transferred including the costing which has not been done properly," he said.
Chairperson of Inter-Governmental Relations Technical committee (IGRTC),Kithinji Kiragu emphasized the need for the two levels of government to collaborate.
"If the President was not committed we would have not gotten here. The two levels of government have to work together and other parties should also be involved in the process,"Kiragu said.
He said that during the 10th Devolution Conference in Eldoret,the president pledged to expedite transfer of devolved functions to counties within 60 days.
"There has been, however, dissatisfaction in the counties in delay of transferring devolved functions,"he added.