Mrs Mturi-Wairi named Kenya Ports Authority managing director
New Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Catherine Mturi-Wairi. Ms Mturi-Wairi announced on August 5, 2016 that several people, KPA staff, will be charged on Monday in connection with the loss of cargo at the port. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said Mrs Mturi-Wairi scored 72.5 per cent during interviews.
- Mrs Mturi-Wairi has been the Kenya Ports Authority acting managing director.
- The ports general manager for engineering services, Mr Joseph Atonga, was second with 68.75 per cent.
Kenya Ports Authority has a new managing director. She is Catherine Mturi-Wairi and she replaces Mr Gichiri Ndua who was sent packing five months ago.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said Mrs Mturi-Wairi scored 72.5 per cent during interviews. She had the highest score out of other three names forwarded to Mr Macharia by the ports board of the directors.
Mrs Mturi-Wairi has been the acting managing director.
The ports general manager for engineering services, Mr Joseph Atonga, was second with 68.75 per cent ahead of Mr Stanley Ndege Chai, a director of Mombasa-based Ultimate Maritime Consultants who scored 58.2 per cent.
Mrs Mturi-Wairi will serve for three-years and starts immediately.
Mrs Wairi is a finance professional who has served in various roles over the past 23 years at the ports including being general finance manager.
She also holds an MBA in Strategic Management from the United States International University and a BSc. in Finance and Accounting from the same university. She is also a certified public accountant, a Certified Public Secretary and a certified systems applications and products consultant.
He predecessor was sent packing in February over claims of facilitating tax evasion and smuggling.
Mr Ndua was sent on terminal leave pending the expiry of his contract this month.
Other ports officials dismissed were general managers for operations Twalib Khamisi, legal services Muthoni Gatere, corporate services Justus Nyarandi and head of security Mohamed Morowa.
Revenue authority commissioner of investigations Jonah Cheruiyot was redeployed as the head of human resource while Ms Rachel Monyoncho will take an early retirement.
KRA also transferred more than 50 staff and top managers from the container freight stations.
Coast DCI Regional Commander Henry Ondieki has been transferred to Nairobi while Mombasa Port OCPD Zacheaous Ngeno was dismissed.
The changes were carried out few weeks after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit in Mombasa around February where he vowed that he would fight corruption at the port and enhance its efficiency.
Mr Macharia said that the port’s board had established that staff had failed to fully carry out their duties at the port.
