The interviews for the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director position is set to be advertised after all the pose interviews failed to pass.
“I have reviewed the list of names, scores and ranking of the candidates proposed for appointment as Managing Director, Kenya Ports Authority, and note that all the candidates scored below the desired threshold of 70% in the interview. Consequently, the Kenya Ports Authority Board is directed to undertake a fresh recruitment of the Managing Director and conclude the exercise within 45 days from the date of this letter”, a letter by Treasury CS Ukur Yatani to KPA Board Chairman Rtd Gen Joseph Kibwana says.
Former KPA MD Dan Manduku resigned in June 2020 after a spate of corruption allegations.
The post of the MD was filled in acting capacity by Rashid Salim.
Following the failure to find a replacement as per Ukur Yatani’s letter, Rashid Salim’s tenure has been extended by a further 3 months.
Rashid was not among those shortlisted for the job.
The three candidates never met the threshold required for the position forcing the government to go back to the drawing board and it is set to re advertise for the controversial post.
Former Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport Corridor chief executive officer Silvester Kasuku came third after he managed to score 63 per cent marks.
Both former Principal Secretary at the Gender ministry Mwanamaka Mabruki who has previously worked at the port and Murshid Rashid who is maritime expert tied with a score of 67 per cent marks.
The three from the six shortlisted candidates failed to meet the pass marks of 70 per cent.
The move to extend Rashid’s contract will be the last since he is expected to proceed to his annual leave pending his retirement end of this year.
Things may get more complicated in the recruitment process as KPA board of directors chairman Joseph Kibwana is expected to exit mid this year.
Other shortlisted candidates who sat for interview for the top post were James Ng’ang’a who is currently Infrastructure Director – Northern Corridor at TradeMark East Africa and who previously worked at the port of Mombasa, former KPA General Manager Human Resource and Administration Dr Amani Komora and KPA General Manager in charge of Kisumu port Sudi Mwasingo who made his second attempt for the post.
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