A section of port users has defended the track record of Captain William Ruto, the Managing Director (MD) of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), since he took the helm in 2023 amid accusations of procurement improprieties.
They vehemently condemned what they described as orchestrated attacks and machinations to tarnish the reputation of the industrious MD in a bid to hound him out of office.
The Port Users, led by Michael Magak, say the MD woes stem from retrogressive forces who are hell-bent on perpetuating the capture and manipulation of the KPA tendering process.
They expressed their unwavering support and confidence in the entire KPA management, saying they have done a marvelous job of streamlining the port operations and ensuring efficient service delivery to all port users and the community through the Corporate Social Initiative (CSI).
They described a recent newspaper headline as sensational and intended to discredit the MD. They encouraged him to continue executing his mandate professionally, dismantling entrenched tender cartels and ensuring that youth, women, and persons living with disabilities have fair access to tenders.
Under the current MD, they said, KPA has scaled up its support for the local communities to unprecedented levels through targeted CSI policy measures in environment and community socioeconomic support and empowerment.
The Head of Public Service was urged to take measures to ring-fence KPA from politically motivated manipulation and threat by cartels determined to disrupt its operations.
“KPA has achieved performance beyond expectations by global standards. This good work must not be endangered through malicious propaganda, innuendoes and personal grudges,” Magak stated.
He added that Capt. Ruto has managed to steer the port to greater heights. In 2024, the Port of Mombasa surpassed 2 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in container traffic, a historic milestone.
“The port has performed three or four times more than it has before,” Magak said, adding that turnaround time has significantly improved.
Michael Nato, a Supplier, said the people who are fighting the MD don’t want competition in bidding for tenders.
He hailed the MD for devising a system where all groups benefit from the Authority’s procurement opportunities, to the disappointment of the business persons who have vested interests and want the status quo to remain.
“Some people out there are very uncomfortable, which is why they sponsor headlines that are malicious and are a smear campaign. If they have any issues with the MD or General Manager for procurement, let them go to court,” Nato said.
Mama Ambasa, a Mombasa resident, urged the detractors to let the MD work to improve the port’s efficiency amid stiff competition from neighbouring regional ports.
By Sadik Hassan
