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.
