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Latest News

Okoa Mombasa’s submission to National Assembly inquiry into use of SGR

Okoa Mombasa has submitted comments to a National Assembly inquiry into the use of the Standard Gauge Railway…

Okoa Mombasa announces results of poll to rename waterfront park

Okoa Mombasa has announced the results of its poll to choose a new name for Mombasa’s waterfront park,…

Okoa Mombasa Facebook Live: The history of Mombasa’s waterfront park

6 July 2020 Facebook 10 am https://www.facebook.com/OkoaMombasa/ Okoa Mombasa will hold a Facebook Live event on Monday, 6…

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Media Coverage of Our Issues

Kenya swallows humble pie in edict on use of SGR for cargo

“The decision is a huge reprieve to freighters who risked losing hundreds of jobs following the ban on use of trucks to transport goods from the port city.”

The East African

(6 July 2020)

Kenya shelves Naivasha SGR depot cargo pick-up order

“The State has backed down from its earlier directive on the use of standard gauge railway (SGR) for all cargo destined to Nairobi and beyond following pressure from regional economies.”

Business Daily

(6 July 2020)

Government illegally hired Chinese firm to build SGR, court declares

Court of Appeal Judges Martha Koome, Gatembu Kairu, and Jamila Mohammed ruled that the government failed to follow procurement laws while contracting China Bridges and Railway Corporation (CBRC) for the project.

The Standard

(20 June 2020)

SGR services at risk over Sh38bn China firm debt

The National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) said that Kenya Railways has not paid Sh38 billion to Africa Star Railway Operation Company Ltd, the Chinese company contracted to operate the trains.

Business Daily

(10 June 2020)

Order to use SGR only puts Macharia on hot seat

The Kenya Railways Corporation has launched direct SGR freight services for all transit cargo to be ferried directly from Mombasa port to the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD) where trucks will pick them for onward transportation.

The Star

(4 June 2020)

Transporters riled by Naivasha dry port, SGR haulage directives

Okoa Mombasa’s Khelef Khalifa and Dennis Ombok said the move is a ploy by senior government officials to profiteer at the expense of the economy of the Coast. “The SGR has always been driven by political reasons and not economic reasons. It was rushed ahead of the 2017 general elections to get votes,” Khalifa said.

The Star

(28 May 2020)

Mombasa Revives Protest Against Naivasha Dry Port Project

"The directive is giving the SGR an unfair advantage. What we are asking is for transporters to be given an option if they want to transport their goods via road, let them be allowed,” Khalifa stated.

Kenyans.co.ke

(28 May 2020)

New SGR directive sounds death knell for Mombasa economy

Mombasa economy is increasingly getting shattered – and the latest government directive to rail port cargo via SGR to Naivasha for clearance is sounding death knell, Okoa Mombasa has said.

Muhuri

(28 May 2020)

Uganda reluctant to use Naivasha as key transit cargo depot

“It is our considered opinion that the use of Naivasha ICD which is part of our long term regional infrastructure development should remain optional,” Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport says in a letter to Macharia.

The Star

(28 May 2020)

Kenya Railways disowns scheme to oust Chinese firm from running SGR

So secretive have been any contracts entered over the SGR that Kenya Railways has declined to provide the ombudsman any details of the agreements, even after the request was made under the Access to Information Act.

The Standard

(26 May 2020)

KPA, union in exchange over port privatization claims

Dock Workers Union claims four Mombasa families are working with the KPA management to take over the Mombasa port.

The Star

(14 May 2020)

Truckers protest high coronavirus testing fee

“We wonder why we have been asked to pay Sh6,000 for each driver to be tested and yet residents of Mombasa County are getting the tests for free,” KTA’s Dennis Ombok said. “We are asking the government to scrap these charges.”

SDE

(13 May 2020)

1,500 to lose jobs in another KPA privatization deal – DWU

The Dock Workers’ Union (DWU) is sounding a red flag that the government plans to privatize 75 per cent of Kenya Ports Authority’s (KPA) labour force.

Muhuri

(11 May 2020)

SGR moves regional cargo to Naivasha as Kenya revs up service

"All cargo destined for neighbouring countries will now be loaded onto the standard gauge railway (SGR) and moved directly from Mombasa to the Naivasha inland container depot (ICD), where transporters will pick it for onward delivery."

The East African

(9 May 2020)

Lobby group raises storm over forced Covid-19 testing

“MUHURI is seeking a declaration that those who are being forcefully quarantined without sufficient reasonable cause or prior testing justifying their quarantine and isolation is against their rights and should be released.”

The Star

(28 April 2020)

Stop demanding people pay for forced quarantine - Muhuri

Okoa Mombasa member "Muslims for Human Rights on Thursday sued the state, challenging the mandatory isolation and quarantining of people suspected to have the virus at their own cost."

The Star

(23 April 2020)

Kenya: Police Brutality During Curfew

“It is shocking that people are losing their lives and livelihoods while supposedly being protected from infection,” said HRW's Otsieno Namwaya. “Police brutality isn’t just unlawful; it is also counterproductive in fighting the spread of the virus.”

Human Rights Watch

(22 April 2020)

SGR revenue plan goes off track

"Earlier this month after the government announced a cessation of movement in and out of Nairobi to curb the spread of Covid-19, Kenya Railways suspended the SGR commuter train to Mombasa, hurting the already struggling service."

The Standard

(22 April 2020)

"Save Mombasa"

A short film on the protest movement that arose in 2019 in response to the government order requiring Mombasa port cargo to be carried by SGR.

InformAction

(16 April 2020)

Latest News

How You Can Help

Media Coverage of Our Issues

The East African

Business Daily

The Standard

Business Daily

The Star

The Star

Kenyans.co.ke

Muhuri

The Star

The Standard

The Star

SDE

Muhuri

The East African

The Star

The Star

Human Rights Watch

The Standard

InformAction

OKOA MOMBASA - LOCAL PARTICIPATION FOR LOCAL RESOURCES

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