Yatani reveal President Uhuru secretly sold three Kenyan ports
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani has confirmed that President Uhuru Kenyatta had secretly sold three Kenyan Ports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
However, he denied allegations that the President had mortgaged the country’s infrastructure.
The Treasury CS was reacting to assertions made by Kenya Kwanza officials led by Deputy President William Ruto, that the UAE had been given control of the ports of Mombasa, Lamu, and Kisumu in March 2022.
“The Kenyan government is attracting investors into the country and by that not losing any of its assets or benefits but realizing more revenue, employment opportunities for its citizens. We have identified various areas that we would collaborate on including ports, railways and special economic zones. The government will not use any money in the project but will benefit from the revenues earned and taxes generated,” Yatani told a local TV station.
The group noted that Kenyatta had signed the agreement, which will see a corporation based in Dubai take over the management of the three ports.
The CS also stressed that because the negotiations are still in their early stages, the agreement has not yet been finalised.
Yatani faulted the politicians for ruining the country’s investment opportunities stating that, “The letter talks about cooperation and cooperation does not mean anyone is dishing out public property to outsiders. These are just discussions that have started should there be an agreement it will be done after two years. The incoming government will consider whether or not there is a need to expand the economy using this avenue. It can refuse to use it. This is not a binding agreement.”
Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi said the deal was agreed between the government of Kenya and the United Arab Emirates-based company, the Dubai Port World FZE.
“In a secret deal under the guise of an Economic Cooperation Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, and which epitomizes grand corruption; the Jubilee government has assented to a rip-off that will see a foreign privately registered entity – Dubai Port World FZE – take over these key national infrastructural assets,” stated the statement read by Mudavadi.
It further stated, “Indeed, why would a government with only less than five weeks leave office hurriedly and secretly auction the operations, development, redevelopment and management of all our Ports to a foreign entity?”
They noted there was a lack of public participation, a breach of Article 227 of the Constitution, the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act of 2015, and a lack of involvement by Parliament were also asked to be explained.
Kenya Kwanza pointed out that counties, cabinet approval, and the public interest were all excluded from the process.
