Sheikh Ngao claims Sang serving his own interests

DOCK WORKERS UNION POLITICS

JANUARY 11, 2010

BY EUGENE OMILO

The Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council (KEMNAC) has asked dock workers at the port of Mombasa to vote out the union officials as they are serving their own interests.

KEMNAC claims the union’s General Secretary Simon Sang and his committee are being used by politicians to fight Managing Director John Mulewa.

“Sang and his people are there for their own interests. We want workers to organize an election in 30 days and vote him out or he should apologize and toe the line,” said KEMNAC’s Chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao.

When contacted for comment, Sang said he has nothing to apologize and said he is not going to be intimidated to resign because he is in office legally having been elected by a popular vote.

“I do not want to create enmity with the Muslim community but I want to challenge them to create a forum where we can meet as three equal partners and discuss the way forward,” said Sang.

“If there is anybody who should apologize then it is the other party (Mulewa) not me,” he added.

 Ngao said his organization is rooting for the appointment of Coastal residents to top positions in parastatals within the region.

“Our brothers from upcountry are free to work in Coast but our position is that our people too are well educated to head the various parastatals in the region and should not be denied the chance,” said Ngao during a press conference in Mombasa yesterday.

He said politicians are bitter with Mulewa’s policy at the port as they no longer have influence on recruitment of low cadre workers and as a result they are using the workers union to fight him.

Sang however dismissed the claims saying he was only serving the interests of the workers. 

ENDS.