Mijikenda elders allege scheme to kick out KPA chairman

A section of Mijikenda elders have alleged a scheme by some Coast politicians to kick out Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) board chairman Benjamin Tayari.

The elders defended Mr Tayari and KPA Managing Director William Ruto, saying they should be retained because they have improved port business and working environment.

Led by Patrick Mangale and Daniel Kitsao, the community elders appealed to President William Ruto to retain the duo for the growth of the port business.

The volume of business at the port of Mombasa increased from 35.98 million tonnes in 2023 to 41 million tonnes last year.

Container traffic jumped from 1.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 2 million TEUs, which earned KPA workers a bonus.

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“The yearly bonus qualification during the hard time is a clear testimony that Captain Ruto and Tayari are truly performance wizards who deserve continuous government support,” Mangale noted, urging President Ruto to extend their terms at KPA.

He said that Tayari and Cpt Ruto have managed to turn around the port, especially after the Covid-19 disruption.

Managale claimed that an influential Coast politician wants former KPA managing director to replace Tayari as chairman against the wishes of local communities.

Kitsao said the Mijikenda elders want Tayari and Cpt Ruto retained to grow port business and ensure harmony among workers.

“We are happy with what Tayari and Captain Ruto have achieved so far, and we want their terms extended at KPA once they come to an end for continued business growth,” he said.

Kwale Kaya elder Juma Mwakiroho appealed to President Ruto to retain the duo saying the growth of port business will open employment opportunities for local youth.

“We want KPA to register further growth so that our youth can get employment. We want both Tayari and Captain Ruto to continue serving at the port to attract more business,” he said.

Another elder, Mwaka Kibwana, said Tayari and Ruto have managed to fight corruption at KPA and increased productivity, hence they should be allowed to serve.

“As women from this region, we support their continued stay at the port because they have managed to fight corruption and attract more business,” she said.

Kibwana hopes that the cordial working relationship between Tayari and Ruto would enable the smooth development of the Dongo Kundu special economic zone that is expected to create employment for youths in the region.

During his recent tour of the Coast region, President Ruto announced that KPA workers would get an annual bonus after the authority achieved 2 million TEUs target last year.