President William Ruto today, Tuesday, September 13 affirmed his promise of restoring the operations of clearing goods back to the port of Mombasa.
Speaking during his inauguration, the Head of State revealed that he would issue further instructions regarding the operation of the Mombasa port to enable the ease of doing business and boost the economy of Mombasa.
The movement of port operations to the Naivasha Dry Port was a major agenda during the campaigns.
"This afternoon, I will be issuing instructions for clearing of goods and other attendant operational duties to the port of Mombasa as I made a commitment to Kenyans. This will restore thousands of jobs in the city of Mombasa," he stated.
Ruto made the pronouncement while making his inaugural speech as the fifth President at Kasarani Stadium.
During the campaigns, Ruto had promised to revert the port back to Mombasa county even as his allies accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of ruining the economy of the coastal region by moving operations to Naivasha Dry Port.
In particular, they alleged that private citizens had taken advantage of the project and were benefiting from the project alone.
"The SGR was intended to make the port much more efficient. Unfortunately, a few people took hostage of the whole program and ended up with selfish programs that benefit a few people to the detriment of the people at the Coast.
"We have made a commitment that administrative and legal steps will be taken to reverse what has become the biggest impoverishment to the people at the Coast," he stated in May.
The reversal of port operation is among many orders that Uhuru stated he would effect today. Others are the appointment of six judges, reduction of fertiliser pieces and improved Ksh3 billion boost to the Judiciary fund.
Further, the Head of State expressed that his administration would give more directives on some of their campaign promises in the coming days.
"In the days ahead, I will make announcements that are going to better define the trajectory of my administration. I promise to make every Kenyan proud and ensure the economic well-being of all of us," he stated.
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