By PATRICK BEJA
Mombasa: The Dock Workers Union (DWU) is proposing performance contracts, among other raft of changes, for the port of Mombasa to compete with others in Africa.
Following the meeting of its top officials yesterday, the more than 6,000-member strong union said a contract with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) would boost the port’s performance.
“We want the benchmarking to be introduced for all 7,300 KPA workers so that Mombasa port can be ranked against the best port in Africa,” said DWU General Secretary Simon Sang.
The union national chairman Jefa Kiti Kalu, treasurer Patrick Atinga, gender chairperson Sharifa Mwamzandi, chief shopsteward Juma Thoya and Mr Sang were set to meet the Mombasa governor-elect Hassan Joho once sworn in and KPA Managing Director Gichiri Ndua to present its proposals.
They will later seek audience with the Transport Cabinet secretary, deputy president and president.
The leaders want the Government to support the review of the KPA Act Chapter 391 to provide for better governance, including appointment of board of directors, managing directors, heads of division by vetting or competitive selection.
They also proposed the creation of the position of port manager to whom all port stakeholders and organisations such as KPA, Kenya Revenue Authority (port branch), Kenya Bureau of Standards (port branch), Port Health Office and all security and relevant agencies are answerable.
The union also wants the Government to liberalise transportation of containers from the port to Inland Container Depots (ICDs) of Kisumu and Nairobi. “The most successful port of Singapore, wholly government owned, succeeded due to autonomous status,” said the leaders.
Another radical proposal was the establishment of proper logistics office to be headed by a professional logistics officer to be appointed through vetting.
The union also roots for urgent construction of Free Port facility in order to increase the level of business to justify the construction of a dual carriageway between Mombasa and Nairobi.
They also propose the urgent construction of the Miritini ICD to accommodate Tanzania cargo, some Mombasa cargo and Customs Warehouse containers. “This will help in decongesting the port,” they said.
The union plans to prepare a Bill on governance of the port through review of the KPA Act.
The Bill will create the office of the port manager, provide for selection of board members through vetting so that 70 per cent comes from professionals relevant to the industry while the rest represents political interests as well as a nominee each for union and the Mombasa governor.
