Traders in the transport and logistics sector in Mombasa have threatened to block evacuation of cargo through the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) at the Miritini station, should the government continue to enforce mandatory cargo transportation by rail.

The irate traders, together with civil society groups, are accusing the government of taking them for a ride and warned that the only option is to block SGR trains from transporting containers to Nairobi.

Speaking during their weekly protests yesterday, the traders together with their employees said three weeks after Transport Cabinet secretary James Macharia announced a decision by the government to rescind the controversial directive, containers are still being moved without the authority of the shippers.

Kenya Long Distance Truck Drivers Union chairman Roman Waema said they will not allow cargo to go by SGR beginning next week. 

“The situation is still the same, nothing has changed. We want to know why Cabinet secretary James Macharia is playing games with our minds,” he said.

In the demonstration were also members of the Kenya Transporters Association (KTA) players who claim the government gave them a raw deal since only loose cargo was currently being released to Mombasa market while the rest was still being transported to Nairobi by Rail.

“They have refused to hear our cries, we have used all means to reach them but it looks like we are sons of a lesser god. We have no option left except blocking the rail, that is the only way they will hear us,” said Waema.

Fast Action Business Community Movement chairman Salim Karama, claimed the government has continued to ignore their grievances even as the economy of Mombasa continues to suffer with more businesses closing down.

“We are now going to embark on daily demonstration, until the government listens to us, those leaders who met CSs Fred Matiang’i and Macharia were self appointed, they did not represent us,” he said.

“Our politicians have abandoned us, they are dinning with the king while the real citizens are suffering,” he added.

Devastating effects

Mvita MP Abdulswamand Nassir said the government should not take lives of the Coastal people for granted. He said the effects of SGR monopoly are being felt by all residents of Mombasa.

“We ask for the respect of our livelihoods, we cannot continue to suffer, the effects of SGR monopoly are real and we should not be taken for granted,” he said.

 At the same time, about 400 traders who were evicted to pave way for the refurbishment of Mama Ngina Water Front park have protested a move by county government to block them from resuming businesses after the facility was reopened by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday.

The traders claimed yesterday that county askaris had blocked them from accessing the park. They alleged that the county was planning to allocate spaces at the park to other people to the detriment of those who were evicted to pave way for the Sh460 million refurbishment works. 

“We had been allocated this street for a while awaiting the refurbishment to be complete but now we are being chased away. We believe this is a plan by the Mombasa county government to plant new beneficiaries,” said group spokesman Salim Bawazir.

He added that he has operated at the water front for the last 18 years and since being evicted, it has been difficult to feed and educate his children.