Mombasa, KENYA: Mombasa High Court has referred a petition seeking to have the Port of Mombasa managed by Mombasa county government to the Chief Justice David Maraga.
Justice Erick Ogola said that the petition filed by William Ramogi, Asha Omar and Gerald Kiti raised substantial questions of law which needed an odd number of judges to hear the case.
“The matters raised in this petition are weighty and of great public interest,” said Ogola.
Justice Ogola ruled that the court was in agreement with petitioners that the case is of public interest hence the need to have more than three judges to hear it.
The petitioners claimed that the case is important for the regulation, management and operations at the Port of Mombasa.
The petitioners sued the Attorney-General, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Transport and Infrastructure, Kenya Ports Authority and the Kenya Railways Corporation.
The petitioners want an order that the national government only regulates the port, leaving the county to manage its operations.
They contend that the county government is vested with powers to manage local transport, including harbours.
