Mombasa’s fight to privatise

Unions have flatly rejected any proposal for privatisation and are threatening to go on strike if these negotiations continue. Union leaders say they believe that privatisation will lead to between 4,000 and 7,000 workers being laid off.

Kenya’s government has already indicated that the decision on whether to privatise or not will be made by parliament, while pointing out that finance is already available for the development of a new container terminal. At the same time Kenya Ports Authority needs to upgrade and modernize other port infrastructure in order to improve efficiencies and lower the cost of transporting goods through the port.