President Uhuru Kenyatta's Mombasa project whose construction was cost was pegged at Ksh460 million is at the centre of wrangles pitting his Cabinet secretary against the city's residents.
In a report ran by Daily Nation on Tuesday, November 5, a board constituted by Tourism CS Najib Balala was barred from taking over Mama Ngina Waterfront, after Haki Africa and five other parties contested the move.
Mombasa High Court Judge Patrick Otieno issued the restraining orders on Monday, November 5, certifying the application as urgent.
The court further directed the applicants to supply the notice of motion to the mentioned parties including the Tourism and Wildlife Ministry and Attorney General Kariuki Kihara as well as Mombasa County Government.
“The applicant should file and serve the notice of motion within seven days and serve the same to respondents and the interested parties within three days," stated Otieno.
The petitioners, in their case, argued that if the board was allowed to take over the waterfront, most Kenyans who do business at the facility would lose their source of livelihood.
Were it not for the court order, the board would have taken over the facility from the County Government of Mombasa.
"The current locals who are conducting businesses at the waterfront may be locked out from trading at the facility and licenses may be issued to an exclusive group of affluent non-residents, companies and individuals who have the ability to pay huge [fees] to operate,” argued the applicants.
The state had earlier assured that upon completion, the park could be free for Kenyans to visit and do business in but a number of small-scale traders were sceptical about it.
“The president said that small businesses existed since the reign of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and therefore, no businessman shall be relocated,” decried Edwin Charo, a vendor who used to sell items at the park.
After commissioning the project, Uhuru stated that the government expected the park's renovation would contribute to maintaining Mombasa's stature as a major tourist destination in the region.
