Nairobi — The privatisation of Mombasa port has been put on hold as the government tries to convince critics about its viability.

The Privatisation Commission chairman, Prof Peter Kimuyu, on Tuesday said although privatisation was crucial to boosting the port's competitiveness in the region, it was necessary to reach consensus with all players.

Dock Workers Union (DWU) officials have vowed to resist the privatisation and threatened to strike in protest.

On Tuesday, the dock workers welcomed the government's decision and secretary general Simon Sang said the union now had time to make an input.

"We will present a suitable proposal that will benefit all parties," Mr Sang said.

The union is demanding that a gazette notice published in August announcing the privatisation proposal be withdrawn.

"All advertisements should be cancelled and new offers for consultancy services be prepared in collaboration with the Kenya Ports Authority and the DWU," Mr Sang said.

At the height of the controversy, the chief industrial relations officer in the Labour ministry appointed a conciliator to arbitrate between the DWU and KPA.

A meeting called by the conciliator last week was postponed to November 26 to allow him to involve the Ministry of Finance, which initiated the programme. The Cabinet approved privatisation of the port last December.

Four firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers, CPCS Transcorm Ltd, HPC Hamburg Port Consulting GmbH and Maritime and Transport Business Solutions, had tendered for the consultancy job.