Coast civil society network for human rights has threatened to block the concession of  sections of Mombasa and Lamu ports should the Kenya Ports Authority fail to make the deal public.

The coast lobby says it will initiate legal action should the port management and the state fail to update them or make the concession documents public.

Human rights groups from across the coast region have written to KPA demanding an update of the process.

Coast civil society network for human rights chairman Zedekiah Adika further challenged the national assembly to conduct an oversight role to ensure  the concession plan is done within the stipulates of the law.

 “The network has written to Kenya Ports Authority KPA seeking information on their progress with privatization/concession of berths of the institution. Our intention is to consider those facts, against the views of the coast and laws in place, should they fail the test,we may be forced to litigate,” said Zedekiah Adika the chairman of the network.

They have further vowed to put the executive on task, through legal processes, the executive and the national assembly should it continue to come up with policies that contravene the fundamental rights of the constitution.

“As long as the executive and parliament remains incompetent in enhancing oversight, and continues to legislate laws that fail the test of constitutionalism, the executive should brace itself for serious suits, breathing life to the rule of law,” he added.

The “Port Privatisation” has remained a heated topic in the Coast region since KPA published a tender to invite bidders for the development and operation of port assets through Public Private Partnership (PPP) for Lamu container Terminal Berth 1-3, Lamu Special Economic Zone, Mombasa port’s berth 11 to 14 and Mombasa Container Terminal one early September.

Various sections of the local leadership led by Governor Abdulswamad Nassir have read bad faith in the move to invite more private companies at the port amidst fears of mass job losses and to the detriment of local communities.

 Azimio leader Raila Odinga on his part has been on record condemning the intended “Privatisation of the Port of Mombasa” terming it as a mystery.

The CSOs have also called out some members of county assemblies issuing education bursaries saying they are acting in contravention of the law.