Transport operators in Kenya have threatened a strike following a new directive by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) regarding how cargo will be moved from Mombasa Port to different parts of the country.
The operators claim KRA wants all cargo entering Mombasa Port to be transported by rail to the inland container depot in Naivasha for collection by their owners. KRA claims this will help in tracking cargo, ease congestion at Mombasa Port, and enhance customs monitoring.
However, transport workers and operators have vehemently objected to the move by KRA. On Saturday, February 14, transport unions announced their readiness to mobilize their members across the country for a strike if the KRA directive is implemented.
The Transport Workers Union (TAWU) announced its full support for the Kenya Transporters Association, which has rejected KRA’s directive on the movement of cargo by rail to Naivasha.
In a press release, TAWU claimed that similar directives in the past resulted in job losses for truck drivers and operators who depend on transport for their livelihood.
The union also claimed that towns along major highways were negatively impacted economically as a result of similar directives, as many businesses along major roads rely on trucking activities.
Transporters claim importers of cargo entering Mombasa Port should be given a choice of whether to move their cargo by rail or by road.
The standoff follows a recent letter by the Kenya Transporters Association to KRA requesting it to withdraw its directive, citing a violation of free market principles and a potential reversal of gains made after the policy was repealed in 2022. The standoff may lead to a strike in the near future if not resolved.
