Members of Mombasa County Assembly have lamented that the county does not benefit from revenue collected from the Kenya Ferry Service (KFA) and the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) by the National government.
Through the County Assembly Labour Committee headed by Mikindani MCA Renson Thoya, the County lawmakers met Senate Labour Committee chaired by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja on Tuesday.
The MCAs further complained that high levels of unemployment have adversely affected youth in the county.
Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki who is a member of the said Senate Committee, said the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) had taken 70 per cent of transport jobs, affecting truck drivers.
“Since the SGR started operating, it has taken 70 per cent of the transport business in Mombasa and the northern corridor. Truck drivers have been adversely affected. Let the importers have an option on which transport they want to transport cargo," he said.
According to him, the National government should allocate a portion of revenues from the SGR, KPA and KFS to the County government.
On his part, Sakaja expressed concern, saying counties should be benefiting from resources in their respective counties.
"Counties should benefit from natural resources and revenues generated in their regions. Such funds will aid the county in development projects and provide job opportunities for the youth," said Sakaja.
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He added that 30 per cent of County jobs should be given to County residents to tackle unemployment rate.
"As Senate, we will ask for the list of all employees in national installations in the country to assess if there is a balance,” Sakaja affirmed.
Mombasa County Assembly Speaker Ahrub Khatri also attended the meeting.