[NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga. He has opposed plans by Jubilee to establish a dry port in Naivasha. Courtesy: The Star]
A section of Jubilee Party leaders have defended the government's plan to establish a dry port in Naivasha.
The plan, however, has met vehement opposition from NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga, who argued that the plan would sabotage the economy of Mombasa that heavily relies on the port.
“This SGR will kill the Port of Mombasa because all the cargoes being docked at the port will directly be transported to Naivasha by rail and render the coastal people working at the harbor jobless. Services like clearing and forwarding will now be done in Naivasha,” he said during a political rally in the Coast on Saturday.
But in a quick rejoinder on Monday, Jubilee leaders under UhuRuto Express banner dismissed Raila's claims, terming them as "baseless and malicious."
The argued that the project would instead enhance Mombasa's economy, urging Kenyans to back it.
“The fact is that Mombasa Port activities are not being transferred to Naivasha since the region does not border the Indian Ocean. Just like the inland container depots in Embakasi, Kisumu and Eldoret, the Naivasha facility will provide much needed storage of cargo especially those destined for Uganda, South Sudan, Northern Tanzania, Rwanda Burundi and DRC therefore relieving the Mombasa Port of congestion, create more space for handling cargo and improve efficiency,” the statement said in part.