A number of senior managers at the port of Mombasa have been left in a state of dilemma after Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia reshuffled 14 out of 16 heads of department.
According to a section of the managers, they risk losing their jobs following the changes implemented by the CS. Macharia on Thursday said that the reshuffle was conducted in order to make the port work more efficiently following the launch of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). A senior port official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that they have been left in an awkward position following the changes.“We are worried, we don’t know the next move,” the official said on Friday. On his part, Peter Otieno, who is the Car Importers Association of Kenya (CIAK) chairman, said the new changes will have a negative impact on the businesses of transporters. He further said that many Kenyans will lose their jobs and several towns along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway affected following the new move.“I am speaking on my capacity as a clearing and forwarding agent. The move will affect the businesses of transporters and Container Freight Terminals (CFS). Where are we going to place these people working on the CFSs, petroleum fuel pumps and transport industry?” he asked.He further said that there are around 1200 agents who have been operating at the port, adding that they will have no option but to close down their business if the government does not reconsider the move.