Uhuru to open port academy as terminal row rages on

A cargo ship leaves the Port of Mombasa. Kenyan youths are now being recruited by international shipping lines. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

President Uhuru Kenyatta returns to the Coast today to commission the newly- refurbished and equipped Bandari Maritime Academy. 

Uhuru's visit comes amidst opposition by some leaders to a Government plan to hand over the running of the Sh30 billion Second Container Terminal to the Kenya National Shipping which is partly owned by a Swiss registered Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

According to Government estimates, this deal will see thousands of Kenyan youth employed by MSC which is the second largest shipping line in the world. Already, several youth have been employed on MSC cruise ships.

The catalyst

The college is billed as the catalyst for Jubilee administration’s intent to create jobs for thousands of youth at the Coast and the country at large.

Last week, the National Assembly approved President Kenyatta’s proposal to have the KNSL and MSC to jointly run the second container terminal in Mombasa. MSC owns 47 per cent of KNSL.

Dock Workers Union General Secretary Simon Sang is also opposed to the deal.

Yesterday, maritime expert Said Abdalla said the President’s visit will calm the politics around the deal, adding that the Government's move will create jobs for local youth.

“Our leaders have always said that the reason why Coast has witnessed increased number of juvenile gangs is because of high rate of unemployment. This is an opportunity that should be supported by all and if their issues they can be ironed out later,” said Abdalla.

Already, Abdalla through the Said Abdalla Foundation, has registered more than 4,000 youth who will join either Bandari Academy or Kenya Coast Polytechnic to gain requisite academic papers to enable them to get the jobs.

“Youth should be trained to get well-paying jobs and not just general works. Youth in Coast have the expertise, but lack the academic papers to enable them get good jobs,” he said.

Yesterday, a communique from State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena-Mararo indicated Uhuru will today join maritime sector stakeholders in commissioning the academy at the Kilindini Port in Mombasa County.

“The new Bandari Maritime Academy, previously Bandari College, is a centre of excellence in maritime training and was established as part of ongoing reforms in the maritime transport industry in the country,” said Dena.

She said through the academy, the Government aims at bridging the huge shortage of qualified seafarers in Kenya and the region to meet the needs of the emerging blue economy sector.

Jubilee administration has identified the Blue economy key to its agenda to create employment. It estimates that the sector has the potential to create 52,000 jobs in 10 years.

“It will contribute up to $4.8 billion to the country’s GDP and create more than  52,000 jobs in the next 10 years,” states the statement.

Bandari Maritime Academy will provide advanced education and training to appropriately-qualified candidates, leading to the award of diplomas and certificates and other such qualifications.

The Kenya National Shipping Line (KNSL) can now run the second container terminal after President Kenyatta assented to a Bill removing a raft of restrictions.

The amendment to the Merchant Shipping Act signed into law the president has exempted KNSL, a Government owned shipping line, from restrictions in providing crewing pilotage, clearing and forwarding and general ship contractor among other operations.

In line with the President’s recommendations, the restrictions will not apply to KNSL whose majority shareholding is held by the Government through the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).

This means that KNSL can jointly with the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) run the second container terminal at the port of Mombasa built at Sh27 billion. KNSL has 53 per cent shares owned by KPA and 47 per cent by MSC.

Coast MPs on Tuesday last week attempted to shoot down the Merchant Shipping (amendment) Bill 2019 insisting that only a firm fully-owned by Government should run the container terminal. 

The bill, however, sailed through as proposed by President Kenyatta to revitalise KNSL, promote training and recruitment of seafarers by MSC.