President Uhuru Responds To Ruto's Claims On Naivasha Container Deport

William Ruto has come under fire from President Uhuru Kenyatta for utilizing political doublespeak and fabricating information over the Naivasha Inland Container Deport (ICD)

Kenyatta asserted that, in contrast to the claims being made by Ruto, the Naivasha ICD project would not in any way disrupt or obstruct operations at the port of Mombasa.

Kenyatta stated that the Naivasha ICD is instead being built to facilitate cargo processing and hauling in the nation by easing congestion at the Mombasa Port, the Nairobi ICD, and on the roadways.

“A whole leader standing in public and saying look at these people, they have moved the railway and port to Naivasha. Surely, can I carry the ocean to Naivasha? Only God can do that,” said Kenyatta.

The Head of State said the government settled on Naivasha due to the ready availability of high voltage power and water, noting that Naivasha has over 1,000 kilowatts of power.

“We chose Naivasha because of the geothermal energy that grants us cheap power, available raw materials and strategic location transport-wise. Ignore the empty talk of critics,” he added.

The Head of State said by linking the port of Mombasa and the Naivasha Industrial Park through the SGR, over Ksh.59 billion (500 million USD) would be generated for the economy every year.

“The containers from here in Naivasha would be transported through the SGR to Mombasa. Is that not employment we are creating for Coastal residents? All the communities living here don’t they have a right to have their livelihoods uplifted?” posed Kenyatta.

“Let us avoid politics of deceit. As we speak, in Mombasa we are constructing the Dongo Kundu Bypass so that we can have Special Economic Zones. We are also setting up the same Special Economic Zone in Kisumu, Nairobi and Murang’a so that even residents in those areas can also benefit.”

President Kenyatta added: “Don’t be a person who tells us Kenya has no fool yet you are the same same person talking to us as if we are foolish people. Are we not educated?”

Kenyatta inaugurated the SGR-MGR Passenger Rail Link at the Kenya Railways Mai Mahiu Station in Naivasha, Nakuru County, while he was still in the area.

In the meantime, President Kenyatta urged Kenyans to back Raila Odinga, a presidential contender for the Azimio La Umoja coalition, in the next elections.

Odinga, according to Kenyatta, is a knowledgeable man who values unity and merits to succeed him as head of state.

“Nawaomba kwa heshima kuna mzee mwingine anatembea..ata akiwa mzee… uzee siugonjwa. Hamtafuti mtu was kwenda marathon. Tuko na Kipchoge. Tunatafuta mtu na fikra, hekima, unyenyekevu na anapenda watu wake. Mtamuunga mkono?” posed Kenyatta as the residents cheered.

He added: “We are not reversing the whole SGR plan. the original plan of SGR was not supposed to shut down the port of Mombasa… It was supposed to elevate activity in the port of Mombasa by making sure that the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone is operational by making sure the industrial city in Naivasha produces raw materials and products that would eventually go back to Mombasa and make the Mombasa port much more commercial and viable.”

The Turkish Industrial Holding Complex will be built in the 1000-acre Naivasha Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which the president earlier formally opened and set the cornerstone for.
The vast complex, which will be known as Turkish Industry Zone (TIZ), would span 400 acres and include 6 firms that produce goods for the building, forestry, furniture, and cleaning industries.

He also put the finishing touches on the 45,000 square meter Naivasha Inland Container Deport (Naivasha ICD) in Nakuru County and the Ksh. 1 billion Naivasha Industrial Park Water Project in Suswa, Narok County.

On a recent campaign visit of the coastal region, DP Ruto made it seem like the government was at fault for the construction of the Naivasha Inland Container Depot, which detractors claim will have an impact on Mombasa port operations.

Ruto later claimed that some individuals hijacked the project and relocated specific port functions to Naivasha in an interview with KTN News.

If elected President, he promised to move the aforementioned operations back to Mombasa.

“What has happened is that other people took advantantage and moved port operations. Simple infrastructure things that have nothing to do with the construction of the railway. We are going to reverse port operations that have been brought to Nairobi to benefit a few people,” said Ruto.