Mombasa: A lobby group has moved to court to challenge the Kenya Ports Authority’s (KPA) plan to lease equipment and outsource Port operations services for five years, arguing that the move amounts to the corporatization of the Port without proper public participation.
According to Kenya News Agency, the tender, which was posted on the KPA website on May 8, 2026, and closed on May 25, 2026, seeks the co-provision of leased equipment and operating services for port operations. Taireni Association of Mijikenda Chairman, Peter Kadzeha, stated that the initiative effectively transfers control, use, and economic benefits of strategic public assets to private entities. He argued that such a process constitutes a form of privatization or Public-Private Partnership arrangement, which must comply with constitutional and statutory safeguards.
Kadzeha emphasized that the failure to adhere to these safeguards renders the process unconstitutional, ultra vires, and void from the onset. He further argued that the long-term leasing of operational assets transfers KPA’s core functions to private actors, reducing the authority to a residual or supervisory role. Kadzeha noted that the tender process bears the characteristics of a concession or public-private partnership arrangement, including long-term access rights, revenue generation, and operational control by non-state actors.
Separately, Mombasa Senator, Mohamed Faki, has opposed the same KPA’s framework contract for the provision of skilled and semi-skilled labour. The three-year tender, seen by KNA, is expected to lead to the recruitment of more than 4,625 workers operating in three shifts, required to renew their contracts annually. The tender aims to ensure efficient cargo handling, maintain equipment productivity, guarantee safe port operations, provide a qualified workforce, and support revenue targets.
Faki, speaking during an engagement with the Wachangamwe community, highlighted that the community had historically donated land for the port construction, resulting in employment opportunities. However, he noted a change in trend, citing recent recruitment that largely excluded locals. He promised to investigate at the National Archives to support resumption of royalty payments and argued that the community is increasingly excluded from Port jobs.
The Senator expressed concerns that the recently advertised KPA tender for skilled and semi-skilled labour, alongside equipment leasing, would end direct recruitment by the authority. He warned that the move could lead to job losses and transform KPA into a landlord-like role, contrary to the community’s intentions for hosting the port.
