Mombasa,KENYA:Transporters in the country have condemned the government over what they term as misinformation which is leading to uncertainty and eventually affecting their business.
Speaking during the African ports expansion conference at the Sarova Whitesands hotel, the C.E.O of the Kenya Transporters Association Alfayo Otuke, on Monday said the the misinformation is making the situation seem like they are competing with the SGR instead of supplementing each other .
“Banks are now not interested in facilitating us through loans because of the uncertainty hanging around.” Otuke says.
According to Otuke there are over 30,000 trucks in Kenya and each truck supports over 20 Kenyans and the Managing director of the Kenya railways association Atanas Maina has said that the SGR which is set to start working in June is expected to ferry over 50% of the port cargo.
According to the latest statistics road transport accounts for 98% of the transportation of all the port cargo while railway accounts for the rest.
However, the Shipping and Maritime affairs principal secretary Nancy Karigithe has urged transport operators to be dynamic .
The African ports expansion conference began on Monday with over 50 delegates from countries such as South Africa, Belgium, Morocco , Tanzania and India attending.The conference is expected to end on Tuesday.
