The government has said its decision to reverse a directive requiring compulsory use of the standard gauge railway for cargo transport from Mombasa still stands.
Transport CS James Macharia yesterday confirmed the government has not lifted the suspension.
"I have spoken before about the suspension of that directive and I even said it before in Parliament when I was summoned that, because the directive had been issued without full consultation, within two days actually, we directed that it be reversed and it remains suspended," he said.
He spoke at a joint press briefing attended by his Interior counterpart Fred Matiang'i and Coast leaders at Harambee House.
Last month, the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Kenya Ports Authority issued a joint public notice to importers requiring them to move their containers from Mombasa to Nairobi Inland Container Deport through the SGR.
Coast leaders led by Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir said the directive would kill container freight stations along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and further cripple transporters .
It would also lead to the closure of warehouses and massive job losses.The directive caused demonstrations in Mombasa.
MPs, truck drivers and activists pledged they would protest every Monday until the directive was rescinded.
There were claims the protestors who had announced plans to mobilise residents to boycott this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations over the directive were being financed by coastal leaders.
However, Mvita MP Nassir refuted the claims.
Mombasa Governor Ali Joho urged the government to keep its word because even though the directive was suspended it was being implemented.
"What we ask them to do for us is to ensure that whatever is pronounced in Nairobi is executed on the ground," he said.
Joho emphasized that dialogue between the national and the county government of Mombasa was vital.
"In this era, sharing ideas especially when human lives are involved is important. When people come together, consult and understand each other, great things happen," he said.
Matiang'i said the meeting was held after a directive from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
PORT DEVELOPMENT
Governor Joho said Mombasa county together with the Ministry of Transport are working on making the Mombasa port a world class facility.
"We are an important county and we host the port of Mombasa. It is growing by the day and we want to transform it into a world class port," he said.
Cs Macharia said that his ministry will make sure the Mombasa port grows like any other world class port .
"Mombasa is the genesis of the Northern Corridor and we have said many times that the port of Mombasa and SGR cannot survive independently because they complement each other," he said.
