Kenya Kwanza accuses Gov't of leasing Mombasa, Lamu, Kisumu ports to Dubai company

The Kenya Kwanza Alliance has accused President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration of scheming and allegedly relinquishing ownership and control of three critical ports and supporting infrastructure to a Dubai-headquartered company.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kenya Kwanza co-principal Musalia Mudavadi accused the Head-of-State of working in tandem with former premier Raila Odinga to hash out the specifics of the deal he says has seen Dubai Port World FZE take over operations at Mombasa, Lamu and Kisumu ports.

Dubai FZE has allegedly been given powers to revive berths 11 to 14 and create a special economic zone at the Mombasa Port, develop a special economic zone at the Lamu Port and operate logistic parks at both Kisumu and Naivasha.

According to Mudavadi, Treasury CS Ukur Yatani signed the deal on March 1, 2022, under the pretence of an Economic Cooperation Agreement with the United Arab Emirates.

“This deal was mooted in a meeting in Mombasa disguised as Raila's birthday party attended by outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga and the Governor of Mombasa Ali Hassan Joho amongst other State capture agents who are the principal beneficiaries of the deal, " read the Kenya Kwanza statement.

"Kenyans will also remember that soon thereafter the trio made several trips to Dubai jointly and severally."

Kenya Kwanza went on to claim that the deal was unconstitutional since it was purportedly inked in secret without proper public participation, parliamentary approval and involvement from devolved units.

"A matter as critical and fundamental as take-over of our national strategic asset, cannot be purported to be constitutionally processed and concluded without the involvement of Parliament," said Kenya Kwanza.

"Further, lack of public interest raises serious questions about government commitment to Kenyans. The Constitution also provides that transport matters including those relating to ports and harbours is a function within the concurrent jurisdiction of both the National and County governments."

Kenya Kwanza now wants President Kenyatta's administration to come clean and reveal to Kenyans the exact details of the alleged pact and whether or not the deal conforms to legal stipulations governing Public-Private Partnerships.

"We challenge the government to make public any process and procedure under the PPPA used to procure such a massive tender. Let Kenyans know the parameter used to initiate the project proposals; how the tender was awarded without opening the tender for open bidding and protocols involved in negotiations between the parties," said Kenya Kwanza.

'We reiterate that the Government of Kenya owes its citizens an explanation why the following legal issues were glossed over."