Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir Shariff has waded into the cargo debate.
Speaking on Saturday, the legislator expressed his opposition to cargo owners being forced to use the Standard Gauge Railway in the transportation of their goods.
He contended that they should be allowed to choose the means of transport that they wanted for themselves.
The Kenya Ports Authority and the Railway Authority said that cargo from the Port of Mombasa would only be ferried by SGR.
Shariff said that the move would spell danger for youth employment.
"Everywhere we go, the youths are talking about employment. If we start killing jobs for the youth, what direction are we taking? KRA and KPA in forcing cargo to be transported on SGR; we are telling all transporters to close down business.(Kila tunapokwenda vijana wanzungumza kuhusu ajira. Tukianza kuua ajira kwa vijana, tuna mwelekeo gani? KPA na KRA wakilazimisha ya kuwa container zote lazima zibebwe na SGR hiyo inaamanisha matransporter wote tunawwambia fungeni virago vyenyu), " the MP said.
A notice from KPA and KRA informed hauliers that all cargo bound for Nairobi from Mombasa would be transported via the SGR.
"All imported cargo for delivery to Nairobi and hinterland shall be conveyed by SGR and cleared at the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi while all cargo intended for Mombasa and its environs shall be cleared at the Port of Mombasa, " the notice read in part.