President William Ruto has affirmed that the government has no intention of privatising Mombasa Port.
His sentiment comes amid claims from a section of leaders who alleged that there were plans to privatise the Port.
However, the President promised that the government would work with the private sector on a concession process to increase efficiency and investment.
"Privatization of the Mombasa Port will not happen when we are in government, I said that when I assumed office, Port operations would be returned to Mombasa from Nairobi and we did that," he said.
"I want to assure you that we shall expand it to create job opportunities because it has the ability to serve South Sudan, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda."
He said the government will make sure the port creates jobs and serves a broader population.
Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir has been on an aggressive advocacy campaign opposing the Port privatization.
Nassir said that Mombasa residents will not benefit after privatisation.
"We are not opposed to development, but we speak on behalf of millions of residents who may not be able to speak for themselves. We ask what is in it for the people of Mombasa in the privatization of their Port?" He said.
He said that they are not opposed to growth and development but they will not be part of a conversation where Mombasa residents have been sidelined.
The governor warned that privatisation of the port will lead to the loss of job opportunities for youths.
"We have not seen any feasibility study that has informed this decision. Nor has any of the leadership of Mombasa been consulted on how this shall affect our residents including issues to do with job losses and closure of locally owned businesses," he said.
However, Nyali MP Mohammed Ali dismissed claims of privatisation of Mombasa port saying those who are claiming that do not have facts.
He added that the government has allowed concessions where both the local and international investors will benefit.
"I think it is all about rumour-mongering if you see leaders saying the port is being privatised those are rumour-mongering people who don't have facts with them," he said.
On September 25, Kenya Ports Authority board chairman Benjamin Tayari clarified that the national government has no plans to privatise critical facilities at the ports of Mombasa and Lamu.
The facilities that KPA intends to place under private firms are four berths (11-14) at the port of Mombasa and the Mombasa Port Container Terminal 1. on and concession."