President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Monday, commissioned the Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa County.
During the event, Dock Workers Union chairman Mohamed Sheria revealed that he had received death threats over Mombasa's second container terminal (CT2) being run by Kenya National Shipping Line (KNSL).
“I have not slept in my house in the past month,” Sheria stated adding that Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) secretary general Simon Sang had spread word that it was the president who was personally buying the CT2.
When Uhuru took the podium, he revealed that he had received a call from a manager at KPA seeking to know why he was allowing part of the port to be sold.
“Chairman, umesikia mambo ya porojo. Hata mimi nimesikia. Lakini sisi twasema shetani ashindwe. Hatuna nafasi ya kuendelea na mambo ya ujinga (Chairman, you have heard some propaganda. I have also heard it. But we say the devil must be defeated. We don’t have time to engage in stupid things).
The president directed the KPA managing director, Daniel Manduku, to guard the project from leaders who were out to make sure it failed and also ensure the workers were protected from such threats.
“Bwana MD umesikia hiyo mambo ya watu wako. Uchunge hiyo mambo (Mr MD, you have heard about your people. Check on that),” he ordered.
At the ceremony, the President announced the revival of the Kenya National Shipping Line (KNSL) and witnessed the signing of a new shareholding agreement between KNSL, KPA and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) aimed at restoring the state corporation into a world class shipping company.
“The shareholding agreement we have signed today marks the beginning of our well thought out plan to transform the Kenya National Shipping Line into a world-class shipping line, over the next ten years.
“Let us work so that our youth get jobs and the economy expands. I am confident that the enhanced training will bring out the best in our talented young people. Let those yapping, yap. Our aim is jobs for our citizens,” he conveyed.
