Section of MCAs elect in Naivasha support move to revert port services to Mombasa
A number of Naivasha elected MCAs have backed President William Ruto’s decision to revert clearing and forwarding services to the Port of Mombasa from Naivasha.
The announcement, made during President Ruto’s inauguration on Tuesday sent tongues spinning, given the billions of shillings put into the project. The multibillion-dollar industrial park in Mai Mahiu is at stake, and tens of local and foreign businesses have expressed interest.
Mai Mahiu ward MCA Eliud Kamau, justified the move pointing out that the issues of port services and the industrial park were distinct and should be dealt with separately. He requested additional time, saying that the President had greater plans, including a leather company that would provide jobs for more young people.
Lakeview ward MCA Alex Mbugua backed the President’s move, saying they were dissatisfied with the way the previous regime operated the port, noting that they had not felt its impact as it did not create jobs for the people of Naivasha.
Mwangi Muraya, their Viwandani Ward counterpart, also supported the new administration’s move, urging the government to establish conducive business policies that will attract investors to set up multinational industries at the Inland Container Depot, creating job opportunities for the people of Naivasha.
According to youth activist Michael Maingi, local youths have not profited from jobs near the ICD and industrial park.
Peter Mwaniki, a trader, said he and other traders interested in the Special Economic Zone were still trying to absorb the ramifications of the new regulation.
Another young activist, Francis Mburu, stated that billions of dollars invested in real estate near Mai Mahiu would be wasted.
While urging the President to reconsider his order, Mburu stated that tens of thousands of jobs would be lost, and that land prices would decrease drastically in the coming months.