[Second container terminal in Mombasa. Photo/container news]
Mombasa gubernatorial aspirant Suleiman Shahbal has backed his rival, governor Ali Hassan Joho, over plans to establish dry port in Naivasha.
The government, through president Uhuru Kenyatta, said they intend to establish a dry port in the Nakuru county area, saying it would ease the cost of doing business.
According to Uhuru, this would be a success, after the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) reaches Naivasha, from Mombasa.
Joho who criticises projects by the Jubilee government, is opposed to the plans, saying they would make Mombasa poorer, given that it is widely recognised as the greatest port, in East Africa.
Shahbal who seeks to unseat Joho on a Jubilee party ticket, said he would not allow port operations taken out of Kenya's second largest city.
According to him, this would bring down the city, if implemented.
''I will not allow port operations to be taken to Naivasha. Not negotiable. Mombasa should and must remain the centre at all times,'' Shahbal said, Friday.