• Workers promised to stand by their managing director, who, they said, has improved the work environment by bringing back the feeling of togetherness.
• On Monday, the employees called on President Uhuru to protect the head of the most productive parastatal in the country today.
The probe on Sh2.7 tenders at the Kenya Ports Authority will derail the achievements it has made under Daniel Manduku, employees said on Monday.
The workers spoke through their representative Gladys Chepkorir when they gathered at the Uhuru Gardens in Mombasa.
They promised to stand by their managing director, who, they said, has improved the work environment by bringing back the feeling of togetherness.
“That is why workers today have better morale than ever before and this can be seen in the recent exceptional performances that the port has been recording,” Chepkorir said.
Manduku is among several top management officials on the radar of Directorate of Criminal Investigation and EACC detectives probing the tender scandal at the port.
The MD has maintained his innocence.
On Monday, the employees called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to protect the KPA boss.
KPA remitted Sh18.7 billion in surplus to the National Treasury as per a directive that all parastatal remit the surplus funds instead of channelling them to projects.
The amount is the highest of all the parastatals that remitted their surplus.
Manduku has overseen improved performance at the port since he took over from Catherine Mturi-Wairi in 2016.
Different groups have defended Manduku saying he is being fought by a cartel that has been making a kill out of the port by controlling the tenders at the facility.
After he took over, Manduku cancelled tenders worth a total of Sh19.5 billion which he said were irregularly issued.
This was the start of his woes, according to the employees.
“Seemingly, he had the bravery to touch where no one was willing to,” Paul Abisa, another employee said.
Abisa and Rashid Mwagasare said the cartels, whose revenue tap has been closed by Manduku, are fighting back and now want him out of their way.
“Since he sealed the corruption loopholes, the cartels have not been happy with Manduku. Now they are creating non-existent scandals in a bid to set him up,” Mwagasare said.
He said the EACC and the DCI should carry out their probe fairly and without prejudice.
“We believe in Manduku and the work he has done to improve performance at the port. We will stand with him till the end,” Abisa said.
Mwagasare described Manduku as a man of God, who has dedicated himself to helping the Mombasa port grow.