Seventeen Governors under the umbrella of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party today backed Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sherrif Nassir in his stance against the privatization of the Port of Mombasa.

In a statement read by Azimio leader Raila Odinga, the Governors questioned the lack of public participation and consultations with local leadership prior to the intended privatisation of the Port of Mombasa.

‘We are perturbed’

“We are perturbed by the decision to have the Port privatized without public participation and the involvement of the County Government of Mombasa. One would ask, why is the process shrouded in secrecy?” read the statement in part.

The opposition coalition also questioned the economic value of the planned privatisation of the port to Kenyans, the people of Mombasa and coast region as at large.

“Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition does not support the planned privatisation of the Port and we shall resist it until the issues Kenyans have raised are openly and adequately addressed. We demand for transparency and openness in the management of public affairs and public assets as required by law and the meaningful engagement of the representatives of the people,” read the statement.

Ruto makes U-turn

But on the same day Azimio’s was releasing a statement, President William Ruto affirmed that his government was not planning to privatise the port.

“As we promised during the 2022 General Election campaigns, the Port of Mombasa will not be privatised. What we are looking at is expansion so that we serve countries like Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan. We will do this by involving the private sector so that we can increase the efficiency,” Ruto said during UDA Party’s National Governing Council meeting at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi.

According to Ruto, news of privatisation of the port are spread by propagandists who are out to derail his administration.