Inspecor General of Police Joseph Boinnet, NIS Director General Philip Kameru meet port managers over graft, crime

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Philip Kameru met Mombasa port chiefs to discuss graft and international crimes like drug trafficking and ivory trade.

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Gichiri Ndua and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General John Njiraini attended the meeting at KPA headquarters in Mombasa yesterday. They also discussed laxity among port employees, police and KRA workers at the facility.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet (PHOTO: COURTESY)

The meeting also discussed insecurity and crime in the town. There has been concern over trafficking of ivory, wildlife trophies and narcotics through the port in recent years, which has been attributed to collusion with port officials, KRA and police.

Mr Ndua confirmed meeting Boinnet (pictured).

"I cannot discuss with you what we talked," he said.

Sources confided that the port police and some KRA employees were deeply involved in corruption, which was denying the Government revenue.

Freight stations

Investigations reveal most police at the port had abandoned their work in the port and were concentrating on container freight stations, normally referred to as dry port, where cartels bribe them to allow goods into the local market without paying duty.

The meeting was convened by Ndua after KPA found that some officers were not giving satisfactory answers over some illicit cargo passing through the port undetected. The KPA management pointed an accusing finger at the export and import section, which is manned by KRA employees.

The meeting also discussed at length the scanning machine, which is also manned by KRA employees.

Sources said corruption among KRA officials, police and KPA staff dominated the meeting as the top State officials vowed to deal with the vice, which is the main impediment to revenue collection at the port.

They also discussed the loopholes that have made it easy for criminals to find their way into the country using porous borders in the Indian Ocean.

Other issues included the danger posed by drug barons at Shimanzi Go downs where the drug cartels have taken over by making the area a dangerous no-go zone for even senior police officers.

This is the area where most export and import goods are stored before being transported or transshipped to their destination. Sources said some port police officers pursue matatu and drivers and long distance truck drivers against protocol.