You are the first priority in port jobs- Kenya Ports Authority boss assures Coast locals

Kenya Ports Authority MD Dr. Arch. Daniel Manduku flanked by Changamwe member of parliament Omar Mwinyi at Airport special school on Saturday during the laying of a foundation stone of Airport Secondary School.The MD was the chief guest. Photo by Peter Kombe

BY OUR REPORTER

Kenya Ports Authority managing director Dr. Arch. Daniel Manduku has promised to prioritize on locals seeking employment opportunities at the state facility.

According to him the port being a public entity in the Coast region locals are entitled to its benefit.

The MD however frankly revealed that all Kenyans residing at the Coast region regardless of their origin and background have an equal opportunity at the port.

Dr. Manduku said, “Kenya Ports Authority will adopt this project. We shall supervise it ourselves. Currently the port is growing bigger,”

The MD, speaking at Chaani Airport Special School on Saturday (10) during the laying of a foundation stone for Airport Secondary School, a sister disability facility also promised to adopt the facility as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

Dr Arch Daniel Manduku reiterated his commitment to scaling up education not only in Mombasa County but the Coast region at large.

“We want to see that locals benefit from their own asset. We shall again give out to this school twenty computers. And mheshimiwa Mwinyi you can come for them very soon,” said Manduku.

He also promised to donate twenty computers to the new disability facility ‘Airport Secondary School’.

Kenya Ports Authority according to him was ready to partner with the local leadership to ensure that Coast people benefit from the Port facility.

Changamwe legislator Omar Mwinyi, speaking at the same function, said the construction of the new secondary school facility will provide a permanent solution to students seeking higher education within the county.

Responding to Transport cabinet secretary James Macharia’s government directive that requires all imported cargo to be transported by the Standard Gauge Railway. The law maker said it is high time the government consults the Coast leadership and chat a way forward.

Mwinyi said, “It is important that we have a round-table discussion on the same. 

Dialogue is a key issue here. Lest we walk in parallel lines with the government,”

The lawmaker is of the view that failure for the government to consult the local leadership in the region, the two parties will not come to a consensus.

The move has also faced opposition by other Coast politicians, haulers freighters and other interested parties.

According to all the different parties the directive if implemented will precipitate unemployment leading to a debilitating effect on the economy.

He says, “as representatives of the masses in the region, they are open to any dialogue that will be fruitful to the locals.”

Meanwhile, Kilindini branch Kenya National Union of Teacher’s KNUT secretary Dan Aloo urged parents to take advantage of the integrated secondary school once completed.

Aloo thanked the KPA MD for adopting the school urging him to create employment opportunities for dozens of youths within the entire county.

“Parents bring your children in this school. We are very happy to hear that we shall have an integrated school here,” said Aloo.

According to him the rate of unemployment among the youths has shot up insisting that there is need for an urgent re dress.

At the same time, Airport Special School principal Mercy Mwandeje says the disability facility will be the first of its kind in the entire county.

According to her, Airport Secondary School, once completed will relieve parents from the burden of ferrying students to and from Thika High school for secondary education which is the only integrated secondary school in Kenya.

“This school was started in 1965. We have a total of 240 pupils who are abled differently. We have a total of 50 staff members with out of whom 10 are TSC approved teachers,” she said.

She says the integrated facility will accommodate students from different parts of the country.

 “This year we registered a total of 22 candidates but unfortunately one of the pupils passed on. We have been doing so well in national competitions. And that is why we want to have our own integrated secondary school within our premises,” said the principal.