This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
Documents from the disbanded board of Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) have exposed the extent of rot at the State agency. The revelations come after the September 29 Likoni Channel ferry tragedy, which claimed the lives of a woman and her daughter.
According to the documents, the board had called for a senior management shake-up even before the tragedy. The board recommended the sacking of Managing Director Bakari Gowa over alleged incompetence.
On July 31, 2019, KFS board chairman Dan Mwazo wrote to Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, recommending the immediate revocation of Gowa's contract and a major shake-up of the top management. Mwazo cited a lack of leadership, poor teamwork, low morale among workers, and an unhealthy relationship between union officials and management as reasons for the recommendation.
Just days before President Uhuru Kenyatta disbanded the board, Mwazo wrote to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti on October 15, 2019, asking him to investigate how services were being procured at KFS. Mwazo also requested a lifestyle audit on key personnel, including Gowa, those involved in finance and procurement, and some board members.
On June 23, 2019, Mwazo took over as chairman of the board and barely a month later, he and his board had arrived at the decision to recommend a senior management shake-up.
