President Uhuru Kenyatta inked deals with his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni that will see the two nations constructing dry ports on Naivasha.
The deals have triggered a debate on whether they will benefit Kenya or not.
Shippers believe that the move is likely to create more jobs for the Kenyan youth because of the transit business but analysts have a different opinion altogether.
Mr Tony Watima, an economist, argues that the Kenya Ports Authority is at the risk of losing cargo to the dry ports once they are completed.
He noted that the two nations will no longer allow their cargo to be opened in Mombasa anymore.
Watima insists that the government needs to rethink the move before the implementation of the same. He also argues that the development of the ports is likely to do the nation more harm than good.
“If Kenya is only providing land while Uganda and South Sudan invest in the operations of the dry ports, then this is a deal heavily skewed against the country.
"It means Kenya Ports Authority will lose cargo handling business, coming against the backdrop of killing maritime logistics business,” said Watima as quoted by Daily Nation.
While inking both deals, Uhuru said that they will transform the nation when they are implemented. He also said that Kenya shared cordial ties with the two nations and the deals will make them the same stronger.
On his part, Shippers Council of Eastern Africa chief executive Gilbert Langat said that Uhuru’s move is among the surest ways of making the two nations committed to working with Kenya.