This archive report was first published on 1 July 2021.
Kenya's Ports Authority has been without a substantive Managing Director for over a year, a situation that has been exacerbated by the ongoing restructuring of port management.
On Thursday, the KPA board of directors announced the appointment of Amb John Mwangemi as the new acting MD, replacing Eng. Rashid Salim who has been acting for more than a year and is now proceeding on leave ahead of his retirement in September 2021.
According to a statement from the KPA board, Amb Mwangemi's appointment takes effect from 1st July 2021, and he will hold the position until a substantive managing director is appointed.
Amb Mwangemi is Kenya's immediate former ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad). He previously served as Kenya's High Commissioner to Rwanda and has also held executive leadership positions in the corporate world locally and internationally.
The position of the KPA managing director fell vacant in March 2020 after then MD Daniel Manduku resigned after battling graft allegations for months. Mr Salim was appointed on an interim basis, but the government has been unable to find a suitable replacement due to political interference.
Ukur Yatani, Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Planning, said the ongoing restructuring of port management has affected the appointment of the MD, and the government is at the final stage of making a decision.
However, sources privy to the hiring process have alleged that senior government officials are pushing for their own candidates to head the authority, which is delaying the exercise.
