This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On August 6, 2019, East African Community and Regional Development cabinet secretary Adan Mohammed appointed Sammy Naporos, managing director of Ewaso Ng'iro South Development Authority, as the acting managing director of Kerio Valley Development Authority. However, this move has met with silent resistance from politicians and a section of senior staff.
According to sources within KVDA, the majority of the staff wanted an insider to act as the managing director, but not an outsider, allegedly for personal gains.
Sammy Naporos, the new acting managing director, was introduced to the KVDA staff at the authority's headquarters in Eldoret by EACRD principal secretary Margaret Mwakima. She assured them of the ministry's full support as the institution delivers on its development mandate.
The appointment of Naporos comes at a time when the KVDA is still reeling from the recent arrest and arraignment of its former managing director, Francis Kipkech, and other senior staff over alleged corruption in the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dam projects in Elgeyo Marakwet county.
Additionally, five senior officers from the ministry and regional authorities have been seconded to work with the acting MD and KVDA staff to normalise operations of the institution. However, there are fears that these officers are government spies sent to uncover any ill happenings, similar to the alleged plot at the Kenya Revenue Authority.
