International ports and transport logistics operators are involved in battles over ownership and control of port concessions or control over profitable projects.
The projects involve development, building storage and logistics facilities along main transport corridors.
In a recent report the Dubai Port World which is seeking to operate, manage and above all develop four ports in the country is said to have a controversial record in its past dealings.
According to the report the Dubai World has displayed dubious tactics since it first expressed interest in a port concession in Kenya back in 2006.
Dubai Ports first entered the Kenyan dispute in 2014 and its saga appears to be the latest in the scramble by corrupt elites to control the gate.
The scramble has assumed global dimensions in Kenya in the past one year.
This is after the government floated an international competitive tender to discount the second container terminal in Mombasa.
Port operators from China, Japan, Singapore, Netherlands and several other countries participated in the tender.
The Chinese group, PSA International, which had partnered with local firm, Multiple Hauliers, had the highest marks, with DP World emerging second. The process was then cancelled amid political undercurrents.
Back in October 2016, the UAE quietly signed a bilateral agreement where it committed to lend Kenya $275 million (Sh32.4 billion) for expansion of the second container terminal on condition that Kenya allowed DP World to take control of the terminal.
In February, 2006, an announcement by DP World that it was taking over management of six US ports in a $3.7 billion (Sh436 billion) deal kicked up controversy in Congress, mainly on security considerations. Under pressure and public scrutiny, Dubai Ports dropped the deal.
In 2012, Djibouti filed an arbitration case in London against DP World, claiming that the firm bribed an official to secure concession to run Dolareh – the largest container terminal in Africa.
Despite the red flags Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS)Ukur Yatani invited DP World to submit commercial proposals for four projects.
They include deploying its money to build three berths at Mombasa port, develop cold storage supply chains in Kisumu and Naivasha and to build a special economic zone in Lamu.
Treasury has also extended an invitation to submit a commercial proposal to equip and operate the three completed berths in Lamu.