March 19, 2024

Sharp divisions emerge among the giant DWU officials over KPA merger with sister corporations

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Ukur Yatani Kanacho addressing the gathering during the KPA, KRC, and KPC merger signing to work as one unit at the KPA Headquarters Picture: Courtesy

BY DAMA KALAMA
The merger of three government parastatals into one unity has sparked divisions among the giant Dock Workers Union officials and members at the Kenya Ports Authority.

The merger of port (Kenya Ports Authority), railway (Kenya Railway Corporation) and pipeline (Kenya Pipeline Corporation) has pitted the DWU chairman Mohamed Sheria against his general secretary Simon Sang.

Sheria’s faction is accusing the GS of secretly supporting the merger while on the other hand Sang’s faction is accusing his chairman of working with forces to derail or scuttle plans to challenge the merger in court. Reports indicate that the union has resolved to file a case challenging President Uhuru Kenyatta’s executive order No.5 of 2020 to collapse the three entities to one.

Under executive Uhuru placed KPA, KRC and KPC services under the Kenya Transport and Logistics Network (KTLN) under the coordination of the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC).

Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Railway Corporation and Kenya Pipeline Corporation officials signing the merger protocol at the KPA Headquarters
Picture: Courtesy

He moved the ICDC from the Ministry of Transport to the National Treasury (NT) in what he said was for effective implementation and operation of the ICDC programs.

DWU chairman accused Sang of blowing hot and cold on the matter saying the merger will lead to the jobless at the port of Mombasa.
“The first casualty will be the 700 staff in the security department because unlike KPA the other two, KPC and KRC, have outsourced security services,” said Sheria.

He said the DWU General Secretary was dragging to use it as a campaign tool for the union’s elections slated for sometime April next year.

Sheria faction has written a letter to the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Mr. Ukur Yattani to convene a meeting with workers to deliberate on the issue.

“We want to see the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between KP, KRC and KPL so that we know how it affected the workers’ welfare like who should negotiate the new Collective Bargain Agreement CBA with,” said Sheria.

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