Mungatana promises 2,500 new jobs at ports

Completion of a new container terminal at Mombasa port and three berths at the proposed Lamu port will create employment for hundreds of job-seekers.

Kenya Ports Authority chairman Danson Mungatana said the terminal to be completed in November 2015, before the scheduled February 2016, will create about 1,000 jobs while the three Lamu berths will employ 1,500.

“These are direct jobs, and we expect massive employment once the projects are complete. We appeal to youth to upgrade their skills because only qualified people will be hired,” he said.

Mr Mungatana was speaking at the KPA headquarters where Coast Parliamentary Group Chairman Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi North) and his Kilifi South counterpart Mustafa Iddi had called on him.

Mombasa port is the biggest employer at the coast with over 7,000 workers, but hiring was frozen in March 2010 over a huge wage bill, which stands at between 55 and 60 per cent of revenue.

JOB CUTS

Local politicians oppose the freeze as promises of jobs at the port once in power are good campaign tools.

Mr Mungatana said management had resisted efforts by institutions like the World Bank for KPA job cuts.

“Mombasa port is not in the UK or US. We appreciate that our people have different needs from those of western countries, one of which is to earn a living. There is no way we are going to sack people in the name of super profits when the port is not making losses,” he said.

Mr Mungatana showed the visiting MPs statistics saying 55 per cent of the port workforce is from the coast.
Mr Mung’aro said coast leaders wanted to see more youth hired, but they were aware of the problems.

“This is a national facility and we cannot ask for too much, so for now, we are satisfied with 55 per cent,” he said.