Smiles For Mombasa Residents as Port operations reverted back

 

Soon after his inauguration, President William Ruto issued a directive that all port operations that had earlier being shifted to Nairobi and Naivasha be reverted back to Mombasa county.The promise that he had pledged to the residents of Mombasa and the coastal region at Large during his nationwide campaigns before the election was well received by locals who for many reasons had been against the action that costed alot of economic implications since it's inception.

Back in Dec 2019,the former president Uhuru Kenyatta flagged of the first cargo train and later in the same Year KPA issued a directive that all cargo destined for Nairobi and past Nairobi would have to be mandatory ferried on the SGR.At this juncture is where things started sowering and led to continuous protests by shippers and transporters fearing loss of livelihoods.

According to the containers freight station associates (CFSA)More than 4000 worker's had lost their jobs since the introduction of SGR and Mandatory haulage of cargo from the Mombasa port.The CFS which initially handled UpTo 80% of the cargo docking in MSA had reported a drastic loss and reduction to 20%.Some of the CFS had to relocate some of their operations to remain in business.Truckers and thousands of transporters had their livelihoods affected with ty reduced distance to cover.

Majority of the side businesses such as hotels and housings recorder a massive loss/reduction in their income due to distabilization of the normal operating in the port.The County government also got affected by the move which reduced revenue collection.The port management itself had to lay off most of the casual and semi skilled labourers who worked the dock's due to decreased workload hence increasing unemployed rates on the island.

Even though one could argue that the shift's in cargo processing from Mombasa to Nairobi and naivasha had Come along with many advantages including decongestion of MSA port hence improving it's efficiency, giving for example cargo that mostly took UpTo 4 days to be cleared were being created within 48hours.,enhancing revenue collection and getting rid of tax evasion,the island currently faces threat of increased traffic on the Mombasa -Nairobi highway should importers choose to take their cargo back to the road following the reversal order by the president.

Nevertheless the reversal of the port operations brings smiles to the people of Mombasa and coastal region at Large who for decades have been dependant on the port for their survival.Many driver's will get back their jobs,Many CFS will be rehiring their staff therefore creating employment, business will thrive and trade along the coastal city will be positively impacted by the Move.The county government is also set to collect more revenues and help in  completion of delayed Infrastructural development projects to meet the Demands of the growing economy.For sure the return of the Port operations to Mombasa will be of great economic value to it's residents.

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