The Port Workers Welfare Group and other stakeholders have defended the appointment of Captain William Ruto as Kenya Ports Authority managing director.
They said Ruto’s appointment was based on merit and his over 32 years’ experience working at KPA in different capacities.
Addressing the media on Wednesday evening at KPA staff quarters in High Level in Mombasa, they said captain Ruto’s rich background in port affairs sets him aside and gives him the leverage to turn around the port performance.
“This appointment should not be viewed through the lenses of ethnicity or politics other than ability. His (Ruto’s) rich portfolio gives him the leverage to improve the port performance to a new level by maximising on modern technology, equipment and well-trained workforce,” said Nancy Osanjo, a KPA worker.
Osanjo said as workers, they had no doubt that Ruto was going to turn around the port performance.
The new MD received a heroic welcome from KPA staff as he reported officially at the KPA headquarters in Mombasa on Monday.
KPA had remained without a substantive MD since the resignation of Dr Daniel Manduku on March 26, 2020, over graft allegations.
Ruto, a seasoned mariner, began his career in 1991 as a cadet marine deck officer in KPA and went ahead to rise through the ranks to become the general manager operations and later habour master.
Until his appointment as MD, he was the general manager for Kisumu Port.
“As the captain settles in office, we should emulate his hard work, humble and resilient background which are fundamental in promoting cohesion and harmony in an ethnically diverse environment, so that we are able to move together towards achieving the corporate’s goals,” Osanjo said.
Paul Abisa, another KPA staff member, said they were not looking at the tribal background of the MD, but his capability and ability to deliver on the mandate.
“We know the President, the Transport Cabinet Secretary and the MD come from the same ethnic group, but with us we don’t go with that. What we are looking at is the port industry; do we have somebody who is able to push the port ahead? That is our concern,” Abisa said.
He added that Ruto is not a political appointee, but he went through the rigorous interviews and excelled.
Engineer John Wenya, a stakeholder of the port, said the performance of the port depends on the workers and leadership to have synergy to deliver on their mandate.
“With Ruto’s capabilities, whom we have seen train overseas for many years, he is the person with the capability to bring the port performance up through the human force,” he said.
He added, “He has got a lot of links and has seen various equipment and technology and we do expect he will bring the best practice of the port into this one.”
He urged the MD to look into wastage, cost management and employees’ empowerment which he said will play a pivotal role in turning around the port.
-Edited by SKanyara
