CS Macharia's directive causes uncertainty among port staff

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia addresses a press conference at the port of Mombasa on March 1, 2018. He reshuffled heads of department at the port. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Macharia said the changes will make the port work more efficiently and in sync with the standard gauge railway.
  • The government is seeking to ensure its directive for imported cargo to be ferried through the railway succeeds.

Fear and uncertainty has gripped senior managers at the port of Mombasa two days after Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia reshuffled 14 out of 16 heads of department.

Mr Macharia, who toured the port on Thursday, said the changes will make the port work more efficiently and in sync with the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

The shuffle caught the port fraternity unawares, including top management, but the CS announced that more changes will be effected soon.

“We are worried, we don’t know the next move,” a senior official said on Friday.

CARGO TRANSPORTATION
The government is seeking to ensure its directive for imported cargo to be ferried through the railway succeeds.

However, stakeholders in the sector including those dealing with clearing and forwarding termed the move to force businessmen to use the railway as draconian.

“You cannot force people to use SGR. It is an arm of the government, it is a transporter like any other so they have to look for cargo on their own. Let them make people prefer them as opposed to the road but they should not be given business on silver platter,” Mr Peter Otieno, a clearing and forwarding agent said.

JOBS
Mr Otieno, who is also the Car Importers Association of Kenya (CIAK) chairman posed:

“I am speaking on my capacity as a clearing and forwarding agent. The move will affect the businesses of transporters and Container Freight Terminals (CFS). Where are we going to place these people working on the CFSs, petroleum fuel pumps and transport industry?”

He said towns on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, including Mazeras, that have been depending on road transport will be ‘killed’ if all cargo is transported through SGR.

“The association will be affected by the directive. I will have to close shop if all containers are taken to Nairobi and my 10 workers will be rendered jobless,” he added.

COMPETITION

Mr Otieno said there are 1,200 clearing agents with offices in Mombasa.

But Mr Macharia said the government will not compromise on cargo transportation to Nairobi inland depot.

He said 28 million tonnes of cargo arrive through the port hence hauliers should not be worried about loss of business when cargo is transported through the SGR.