Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki has criticized the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) over plans to outsource key services at the Port of Mombasa, warning that the move could threaten jobs and undermine the future of the country's maritime workforce.

Speaking in Mombasa, Senator Faki expressed concern over recent advertisements by KPA seeking to outsource services, including the hiring of workers and the provision of equipment.

According to the senator, outsourcing labour would mean that workers would no longer be directly employed by KPA but by private agencies contracted to provide manpower.

"KPA has advertised the outsourcing of some services, including the hiring of workers. This is very wrong because the workers will not be employees of KPA but of the agencies that bring them,” said Faki.

He warned that the move could place the jobs of current port workers at risk and create uncertainty within the workforce.

“This also means that those already working at the port risk losing their jobs. We must protect workers and ensure they have job security,” he added.

The senator further argued that outsourcing labour would gradually erode the development of skilled and experienced career port workers, which he said has been a key pillar in the growth of the port sector.

"If this continues, there will be no career port workers in future because employment will be controlled by agencies instead of the authority itself,” he said.

Faki also opposed KPA’s plans to outsource equipment and machinery services, saying the authority should continue investing in and owning its own operational equipment.

“KPA has also advertised the outsourcing of equipment. This means the authority will no longer be buying its own equipment, which is wrong,” he stated.

The senator maintained that KPA should focus on strengthening its internal capacity rather than relying on private firms to undertake core port functions.

He called on the authority and relevant government agencies to reconsider the outsourcing plans and engage stakeholders, including workers and labour unions, before implementing any changes.