This archive report was first published on 8 July 2021.
On July 9, 2021, a court in Mombasa issued a temporary suspension of John Mwangemi's appointment as acting managing director of the Kenya Ports Authority.
Justice Byram Ongaya of the Employment and Labour Relations Court certified the case filed by the Commission for Human Rights and Justice (CHRJ) as urgent, effectively creating a leadership vacuum in the parastatal.
The CHRJ, represented by its executive director Julius Ogogoh, argued that Mwangemi's appointment was made in secret and violated the required recruitment process as provided for under the KPA Act and the Public Service Commission Act.
According to Ogogoh, the appointment was made without consulting the KPA board of directors, which is required under the KPA Act.
He also argued that the board is not properly constituted, as the term of the board chairperson and three other board members expired on June 5, 2021.
"He neither applied nor was shortlisted in the previous recruitment exercise that was done. The persons interviewed and shortlisted for appointment were rejected by Dr Yatani, who has arbitrarily and capriciously and secretively appointed Mr Mwangemi," Ogogoh stated.
