Nakuru leaders defend Naivasha dry-port

NAKURU, KENYA: Nakuru leaders have backed plans to construct a dry-port in Naivasha as an investment likely to improve Mombasa Port efficiency

According to the leaders, the inland container depot and the Standard Gauge Railway would reduce the number of accidents along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway and help decongest the capital city.

The move come a couple of days after NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga and Mombasa Governor Ali Joho questioned the viability of the inland port.

The duo alleged that this was a plan by the Jubilee government to kill the port of Mombasa adding that the land in question belonged to the Kenyatta family.

But addressing the press in Naivasha, Nakuru gubernatorial candidate John Mututho dismissed the sentiments terming them as political and without basis.

Mututho said that the dry port would create tens of jobs, ease movement of cargo and reduce the time used to ferry the goods from Mombasa to Kisumu.

He said that the trucks ferrying cargo from Mombasa will be reduced meaning a drop in traffic and the number of accidents along the busy highway.

"All the containers will land in the Port of Mombasa before been ferried through SGR to Naivasha for further movement to Western Kenya and neighbouring countries," he said.

Mututho accused NASA of opposing the port on political grounds adding the new establishment would boost the economy of the county.