Economy

Search for KAA boss put on ice as Karangi takes chairman’s job

JAMES

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia. PHOTO | FILE

Interviews for a substantive managing director (MD) at the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) scheduled for Tuesday were cancelled again, days after a board shake-up at the State agency.

The interviews were postponed after President Uhuru Kenyatta last week revoked the appointment of the chairman David Kimaiyo replacing him with General (rtd) Julius Karangi.

The KAA has been without a substantive head for over a year now following the sacking of the former MD Lucy Mbugua on allegations of corruption. Efforts to replace her have hit a snag on three occasions.

In the earlier bungled process, the KAA had on November 20 last year advertised the vacancy, receiving more than 120 applications.

Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) James Macharia however, cancelled the recruitment and appointed consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to conduct the exercise amid protests by parties with interests in the job.

PwC is ready with six candidates who need to be interviewed by the board and three names forwarded to the CS to pick his choice of managing director.

READ: Kimaiyo's appointment to KAA revoked, Karangi named new chair

On Tuesday, Mr Macharia said General Karangi needs to be briefed about the recruitment drive before the interview takes place.

“I am certain and can tell you with authority that the interviews will be conducted in the next one week. The chairman is the one who is supposed to handle the process, but given that he is new at the work station, he needs to be briefed first,” said Mr Macharia.  

The search for the KAA managing director has been bungled several times on grounds of corruption with Mr Kimaiyo last week saying that there was intense lobbying from senior government officials and some of the directors keen to fill the position with their cronies.

“The process of appointing a new head at the airport has been marred by a lot of interference from senior government officials and directors at the board,” said Mr Kimaiyo last week.

“There has been intense lobbying by people who want to ensure that they put in place their right-hand man in order to cut lucrative deals at the airport,” said the former police boss.

About 13 other senior managers at the KAA are currently acting. Mr Macharia has said the recruitment of these officials would be done once the position of MD has been filled.