Editor's Review

“We are going to work with the private sector in that process but the port will not be privatized, I want everybody to understand that." 

President William Ruto has dismissed reports that the government will privatise the Mombasa Port.

Speaking on Friday, September 29, during the UDA National Governance Committee (NGC) meeting at the Bomas of Kenya, Ruto said the government wants to expand the port to serve more countries neighboring Kenya.

“I want to assure you that we now want to expand that port and create a larger space for generating employment and wealth, because the port has the potential to serve South Sudan, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda,” said Ruto.

The Head of State noted that the government will work with the private sector in the expansion process to increase efficiency and investment.

 “We are going to work with the private sector in that process but the port will not be privatized, I want everybody to understand that.

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“We are going to work on a concession process that is going to make sure that we are going to protect the interest of Kenya and the port but we work with the private sector to increase efficiency, investment and to make sure the port serves more people and becomes broader,” he added.

File image of the Mombasa Port

His clarification comes days after Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nasir protested against the alleged plan to privatise the port. 

In a message to President Ruto's government, Nasir said they will not allow any plan to sell Mombasa port.

"Hatuwezi kubebwa kifalafala na Bandari. Ni Lazima tujue feasibility gani iliyofanywa kuonyesha hii Bandari ya kuwa leo wanataka kuibinafsisha. Kwa nini wasiende kubinafsisha Kenya Airways ili ndege Nyingine ziweze kuingia hapa Mombasa," Abdulswamad said.