NAIROBI, MAY 31 — Kenya Ports Authority managing director Catherine Mturi-Wairi has been sent on compulsory leave with immediate effect.
The Board during the 345th Special Board Meeting held on May 30, 2018 noted that the Port of Mombasa has in the last seven days experienced a breakdown of systems on cargo evacuation which has led to serious congestion of the port.
Further, numerous challenges have been highlighted in the past by the board of management with little or no action being taken, KPA board of directors noted.
The board observed that the situation at the port, which includes lack of multi-agency coordination in running port activities, was as a result of poor leadership.
“The above situation can only be explained by a lack of effective leadership at the top, a non-responsive work culture, consistent failure to implement board resolutions and either absence of explicit performance targets or a failure to implement them,” KPA board said.
“Given that the managing director is responsible for all these aspects of leadership and guidance on expected delivery of service, the board has resolved to send her on compulsory leave with immediate effect,” the board resolved on Wednesday.
The special board meeting was chaired by director Michael Maina.
Mturi-Wairi is said to have failed to explain the congestion at the port where over 22,000 containers remained uncleared in the last one week, causing congestion.
The board has in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary appointed Dr.Arch. Daniel Manduku to perform the duties of the managing director on an acting capacity for a period of two months, pending its further direction.
Mturi-Wairi was appointed Managing Director in July 2016. She replaced former managing director Gichiri Ndua who was sent on terminal leave in February 2016.
The government also sent home General Managers Twalib Khamis (Operations), Justus Nyarandi (Corporate services) Board and Legal services (Muthoni Gatere) and Security head Mohamed Morowa during the 2016 melee.
The sacking of Mturi-Wairi ends her career at the East Africa leading port where she has worked for over 23 years, serving in various positions including general finance manager, before becoming the facility’s boss.
She was in the first term of her three-year contract as managing director.
Ms Wairi is a finance professional with an MBA in Strategic Management from the United States International University and a BSc. in Finance and Accounting from the same university.
She is also a certified public accountant, a Certified Public Secretary and a certified systems applications and products consultant.
The new acting MD-Daniel Manduku is expected to streamline operations at the port and end congestion within the shortest time possible as the board seeks a substantial boss.
