Coast politicians and port workers have dismissed corruption allegations against Kenya Ports Authority managing director William Ruto as a smear campaign by disgruntled tender cartels.
Kaloleni politician Alex Kasuku said media reports alleging irregularities in KPA's procurement processes are baseless and politically motivated.
He accused unnamed business interests of waging a campaign to discredit Ruto for putting the tendering process in order.
"Since Ruto took over in 2023, we’ve seen significant improvements in port operations. The allegations are the work of cartels who lost out on tenders and are now trying to fight back," Kasuku said.
"There’s a clear witch hunt. We, as coastal people, are not looking at KPA through tribal lenses, but based on performance. Let the best man lead."
Kasuku, founder of Pwani ni Kenya, praised the MD for promoting inclusivity in KPA procurement, ensuring more groups have access to opportunities that were previously dominated by a few.
He said some business figures are uncomfortable with the changes and are sponsoring malicious media campaigns to force the MD out.
"If they have genuine concerns, let them go to court instead of sponsoring headlines that damage reputations,” Kasuku said.
Jomvu MP Badi Twalib defended Ruto.
He said the MD was selected based on merit and has a wealth of experience unlike some politically appointed predecessors.
“Ruto was recently recognised by the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa as the best port MD for his role in transforming the Port of Mombasa. He’s disrupted long-standing cartels that have controlled port business for years,” Twalib said.
He spoke during a bursary disbursement event at Kajembe High School over the weekend.
Twalib praised the operationalisation of the Port of Lamu under Ruto’s leadership, positioning it as a key transhipment hub in the region.
Port users, led by logistics expert Michael Magak, have also voiced support for Ruto, describing the recent attacks as attempts by "retrogressive forces" to derail KPA's progress.
He said Ruto’s administration has enhanced corporate social investment, especially in environmental and community empowerment programmes, while also achieving record performance.
“KPA hit a milestone lat year by surpassing two million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in container traffic, a historic achievement,” he said.
“This momentum must not be jeopardised by propaganda, innuendo and personal vendettas.”
A local resident Mama Ambasa asked critics to allow the MD to continue his work, noting that regional ports are fiercely competing for dominance and that stability at KPA is key to maintaining Kenya’s edge.
Meanwhile, the KPA management has formally responded to the graft allegations.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the authority reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, dismissing the media reports as misleading and not reflective of its operations.
KPA stated that the procurement documents cited in the reports were either misinterpreted or taken out of context, with the intent of damaging its reputation.
The authority said it has invited independent oversight bodies to review the matter as a show of its commitment to due process.
“KPA’s systems are structured to uphold integrity and transparency at every stage,” the statement read.
“Any clarification or additional information will be shared through the appropriate channels.”
The organisation reaffirmed its openness to scrutiny and resolve to uphold public trust through continuous improvement and full compliance with procurement laws.
