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The Government Leased The Mombasa, Kisumu and Lamu Ports To Dubai Company; Kenya Kwanza Claims

SK 2 years ago 2 min read

The Kenya Kwanza Alliance has accused the administration of President Uhuru Kenyatta of plotting to transfer ownership and control of three important ports and related infrastructure to a corporation with its headquarters in Dubai.

Kenya Kwanza co-principal Musalia Mudavadi accused the Head of State of working with former president Raila Odinga to iron out the details of a contract that he claimed saw Dubai Port World FZE take over operations at Mombasa, Lamu, and Kisumu ports in a statement released on Wednesday.

According to reports, Dubai FZE has been given the authority to administer logistic parks in Kisumu and Naivasha as well as resurrect berths 11 through 14 and build special economic zones at the Mombasa and Lamu ports.

Mudavadi claims that Treasury CS Ukur Yatani authorized the transaction on March 1, 2022, pretending it was an agreement for economic cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

“This deal was mooted in a meeting in Mombasa disguised as Raila’s birthday party attended by outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga and the Governor of Mombasa Ali Hassan Joho amongst other State capture agents who are the principal beneficiaries of the deal, “ read the Kenya Kwanza statement.

“Kenyans will also remember that soon thereafter the trio made several trips to Dubai jointly and severally.”

Kenya Kwanza went on to claim that the deal was unconstitutional since it was purportedly inked in secret without proper public participation, parliamentary approval and involvement from devolved units.

“A matter as critical and fundamental as take-over of our national strategic asset, cannot be purported to be constitutionally processed and concluded without the involvement of Parliament,” said Kenya Kwanza.

“Further, lack of public interest raises serious questions about government commitment to Kenyans. The Constitution also provides that transport matters including those relating to ports and harbours is a function within the concurrent jurisdiction of both the National and County governments.”

Kenya Kwanza now urges the administration of President Kenyatta to come clean and inform Kenyans of the precise particulars of the purported agreement and whether or not the agreement complies with legal requirements regulating Public-Private Partnerships.

“We challenge the government to make public any process and procedure under the PPPA used to procure such a massive tender. Let Kenyans know the parameter used to initiate the project proposals; how the tender was awarded without opening the tender for open bidding and protocols involved in negotiations between the parties,” said Kenya Kwanza.

‘We reiterate that the Government of Kenya owes its citizens an explanation why the following legal issues were glossed over.”