Security of tenure, reforms at KPA come under focus

As the new Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managing director Gichiri Ndua takes office, the industry is debating whether he will have the room to drive the agenda of reforms for the shipping station to be more competitive in the region.

Experts and observers are raising concern that the high turnover of KPA chief executives is serving as the stumbling block to full operation of the shipping station that has been identified as a gem that would help in speeding up Kenya’s economic growth.

In June, the World Bank released a status report that focused on the weaknesses, threats and strengths of the harbour.

The Bank said in Running on one Engine: Kenya’s Uneven Economic Performance with a special focus on the port of Mombasa report: “Instability at the top of KPA is not a recipe for good planning and reform. Ideally, the government should undertake an international search and appoint the best qualified candidates.”

Confirming the appointment of Mr Ndua, Transport PS Cyrus Njiru said it was in line with the KPA Act.

According to Dr Njiru, the fact that the position was not advertised in the local press does not render the process unprocedural.

“The process of appointing the new managing director was done within the KPA Act, which allows the minister for Transport to consult the KPA board,” Dr Njiru said in a telephone interview.

According to the PS, Mr Ndua competed for the position among other senior managers.

Experts are now warning that reforms may not be implemented as planned if Mr Ndua, 54, will face similar puzzle that his predecessors have failed to unravel.

In 10 years, there have been four managing directors: Brown Ondego, Abdalla Mwaruwa, James Mulewa and now Ndua with the last two chiefs being suspended before the expiry of their first three-year term.

In the 18 years since KPA’s inception, it has had 18 managing directors. In the period, Tanzania has had three.

Mr Ndua, an economist, joined the KPA as a project analyst 26 years ago and rose to the position of principal planning officer in 1989.

He has also worked as the principal of Bandari College and was last year elected president of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH).

Mr Ndua was appointed acting MD after Mr Mulewa was sent home by the board, after being accused of abuse of office during the one-and- a- half years he was in office.

Under Mr Mulewa’s tenure, the port announced a record Sh5.3 billion in profits compared to Sh1.3 billion posted a year before.