The fight to clinch the lucrative Kenya Ports Authority managing director’s post has entered homestretch with the list of shortlisted candidates expected this week ahead of interviews to be conducted by the parastatal’s board headed by Joseph Kibwana.
Eng Alfred Masha
According to the board, those to qualify for interviews for the post should be holders of a Bachelors and Masters degree in either Port Management, Maritime and Shipping Logistics, Engineering, Business, Social Sciences, Public Policy or Science and Technology from a recognised institution. They also must have served for not less than eight years in a managerial or leadership role in a large organisation. The candidates who have an understanding of the port industry and naval operations have an added advantage. Within KPA, five senior managers are in the race and they include, general managers Vincent Sidai and Abdulahi Samatar of infrastructure development and Lamu port respectively. The port’s chief civil engineer Alfred Masha has also applied same as Yobesh Oyaro who is in-charge of strategy at Kisumu port. The port’s senior auditor Fred Oyugi has also applied
even though friends claim he stands no chance as he has an active case in court.
Vincent Sidai
Those from outside port who are interested in the MD’s position include Joseph Atonga, Stanley Chai, Anold Mkare, Hassan Musa and Philip Charo formerly a senior manager at NIC bank. According to insiders, Sidai, Samatar and Oyaro have teamed up to fight for one of them to land the managing director’s position. They are reportedly lobbying together on the understanding that if any of them becomes MD, he will assist the others the best way possible. Other sources have also pointed out that the trio who are millionaires have also raised millions to clear any hurdles that could stand on their way including ensuring that KPA directors are happy with them. KPA directors who are tasked with coming up with the ideal person to manage the port includes Peter Gibendi, Cornrad Thorpe, Peter Njiiri, Mary Ngari, Alice Mwaisaka, Delila Kadzo, Philip Mainga, Oscar Eredi and chairman Kibwana. Critics of Oyaro and Samatar claim they should be subjected to lifestyle audit to establish how they acquired their massive wealth.
Abdullahi Samatar
Before being transferred to Lamu as general manager, Samatar had been the Mombasa port’s GM civil engineering division for decades. However, in spite of being described as sharp, Samatar is accused of being absentee worker. But he has a strong backing of national assembly majority leader Aden Duale for the post. Sidai is described as divisive and under control of port brokers. He has been at the port for less than nine months. For Oyaro who before his removal and transfer to Kisumu port was KPA’s procurement and supplies manager for over a decade, his wealth has been a subject of discussion within and outside the port. Among other things, he owns properties in major towns in the country. During his transfer from Mombasa port alongside other top managers two years ago, the KPA board claimed the move was aimed at getting rid of entrenched cartels at the Mombasa port. Oyaro is among top port officials who have recorded statements over the controversial Kipevu Oil Terminal whose tender according to EACC investigators was inflated from the initial cost of Sh15 billion to a whooping Sh40 billion. The project is still under active investigations with a view of prosecuting the looters.
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