MUNGATANA URGES GOVERNORS TO STOP REFERENDUM QUEST

The Kenya Ports Authority chairman, Hon. Danson Mungatana has said the call for a referendum is wrongly timed and has urged governors pushing for a referendum to stop hurting the countries economy. Since an election mood will negatively affect business at the port of Mombasa.

Mungatana said an election fever leads to a drop in business. A categorical example being the last general election. The port registered a staggering 894,000 Teus in 2013 as compared to 903,000 Teus handled in 2012, in container traffic. The same drop is likely to be experienced if a referendum is held.

He however said that it is not wrong for Kenyans to practice their democratic right to vote but the development of the country is of essence at the moment.

He therefore urged Kenyan leaders to create a business friendly environment for investors. As investors tend to pull out when political temperatures are high in the country. This is a move that deprives the country an opportunity for economic growth.

Mungatana urged the governors to be like their counterparts in the developed countries. Where they go into an election mood once and referendum questions are framed during the general elections.

Hon. Mungatana was speaking during a courtesy call to his office by assistant Indian high commissioner to Kenya Mr. Ramesh Kumar, represented by defense advisor Caption Nitin Kapoor and ship commanding officer, Captain A.k. Jolly.

“Kenya Ports Authority and the Indian government are in a cooperation that will see the exchange of commercial and technical ideas.” Said Mungata.

At the moment the Indian government is carrying out a free survey of the Kenyan coast for KPA. It is anticipated that the hydrographic survey is important to the development of any country.

Addressing journalist during the meeting, Captain Nitin Kapoor said India will always stand by Kenya. Their cooperation is aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.

Sentiments which were echoed by Captain Jolly, he added that hydrographic survey is very important to the development of any country. And being the best in the world India is at a better place to offer their expertise to Kenya, now that it is in the process of mapping its coastal line.

According to the KPA chairman India and Kenya have had cordial bilatereal relation with trade between the two countries recording a significant growth.

“India is Kenya’s sixth largest trading partner and the largest exporter to Kenya. Bilateral trade amounted to $2.4 billion in 2010-2011 with Kenyan imports from India accounting for $2.3 billion. The balance of trade is heavily on India’s favour. This year India is still the largest trading partner through the port. It has registered 2.03 million tonnes in between January and June 2014 in imports, compared to 1.7 million tonnes registered in the same period last year.” Said Mungatana.

Mungatana was grateful to India for offering over 100 fully funded scholarships for Kenyan students annually under the Indian Technical and economic cooperation programme for training in technical skills.

He also assured the high commissioner of better services at the port. As his management has emberked on capacity expansion, automated port services besides implementing ICT modules to improve business transactions, updated their systems in readiness to interface with the Kenya National Single Window System, and constructed a watch tower to further boost its existing security measures. The super structure is fitted with a radar system and a closed circuit Television (CCTV).

Indian export to Kenya includes pharmaceuticals, steel, machinery, and automobiles while Kenyan exports to India are largely soda ash, vegetables and tea.