By Patrick Beja

Employees of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) who will participate in demonstrations planned for today have been threatened with the sack.

The workers are opposed to impending privatisation of sections of Mombasa Port.

KPA has released a circular to counter last week’s calls by the Dock Workers Union (DWU) asking its 6,000 members to take part in street demonstrations to oppose the privatisation programme.

In a signed internal circular addressed to all port workers, which has been seen by The Standard, the MD, James Mulewa, warned of instant sacking of demonstrators.

According to Mr Mulewa, DWU did not follow laid down industrial procedures in calling for the strike.

Mulewa said: "Calling the demonstration without exhausting the due process is both illegal and unprocedural."

He said the management "observed with concern the unlawful notice calling for the protest march", and said those who take part in it would be relieved of their duties.

Efforts to get word from union Secretary General Simon Sang were not successful on Monday, as his cell phone went unanswered.

In calling the demonstration, Mr Sang expressed frustrations in trying to stop the plan. Sang noted he had met Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere in Nairobi and he believed the privatisation commission would stop the plans pending consultations, but this failed.