Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho's family may lose a lucrative business deal with the government depending on a High Court outcome.
A report by Daily Nation on Wednesday, November 4, indicated that Mombasa Port workers filed a suit seeking the court to nullify rights given by Kenya Ports Authority to Portside Freight Terminals Ltd.
Portside, which is owned by the county boss' family, was given exclusive rights to run two sheds at the Mombasa port.
The workers union argued that the process was done illegally and that KPA did not factor the importance of the infrastructure enabling the port to perform as a preferred harbor.
The workers further argued that jobs had been put on the line because of the deal which allowed Portside to put up structures at the two sheds.
"Leasing out the facilities without complying with the law and the Constitution is impunity.
"The ignorance of KPA to the importance of this facility cannot be allowed by those who care and have the public interest at heart," stated the Union in court papers.
"KPA has acted unlawfully by allowing Portside Freight Terminals Ltd to own the sheds, provide warehousing, offload and load ships at the port," the Union added.
The workers also claimed that by awarding the deal, KPA had transferred some of its core functions to Portside Ltd.
In their suit, the workers are seeking the court to declare that the Authority does not have the power to alter its organisation.
The suit also sought for the deal to be declared unlawful.
In September, MPs opened a probe on the governor's operations at Mombasa Port following two deaths that were reported at the port after a silo bin fell on them.
Portside operations were later suspended after the government withdrew the private operator’s license.
