Harbours: Mombasa port idle amid strike

MORE than 2 000 workers at east Africa’s biggest port in Kenya’s coastal city Mombasa went on strike yesterday to protest an increase in the amount they must pay for state-run health insurance. Cargo ships were unattended as workers held discussions in groups at the port,which handles imports such as fuel for several neighbouring countries. “The operations section is among those affected but senior officials at the port are currently meeting,” port spokesman Sylvan Mghanga said. Union official Abubakar Mohamed Abdullahi said workers were concerned the government had increased the monthly National Hospital Insurance Fund deductions by more than five times without increasing salaries. – Reuters