Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has raised concerns over increased illegal businesses at the Port of Mombasa.
Speaking on Wednesday at an international conference themed "Countering Wildlife Trafficking through Seaports", Balala said that freight stations are partly to blame for the increased cases of illegal importation and tax evasion at the port.
He accused the private container freight stations (CFSs) for promoting wildlife trafficking, narcotics trade and tax evasion.He appealed to the United Nations to support Kenya in the war against these crimes for the sake of economic empowerment.
Balala also alluded that the private owners are to blame for the chaos and hostility witnessed in Mombasa following the directive on cargo transportation. He said that the government has no plans to reverse any policies in favor of illegal activities.
“The national government will not reverse policies against illegal activities that go on inside and outside the port," said Balala, as quoted by Standard.
Balala also lamented that the private service operators are yet to embrace surveillance measures put in place by Port Authorities in a bid to curb increased cases of illegal businesses at the facility.
He noted that, it is until the private freight operators cooperate with the management of the port is when the incidents will slow down.