After three years in a row without a substantive Managing Director, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary has today appointed Captain William Kipkemboi as the new Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) MD.
Through a special Gazette Notice dated today, March 10, 2023, Murkomen said Ruto will serve for a period of three years.
Ruto is among the twelve candidates who were shortlisted for interviews before the board chaired by newly appointed chairman Benjamin Tayari submitted the name to the CS for appointment.
“After a rigorous and intensive recruitment process, the board of directors has this morning submitted a report and recommendation to my office for the appointment of Captain William Kipkemboi Ruto, having attained the highest aggregate score from the interview process. Pursuant to and in accordance with the powers conferred to me under Section 5 (1) of the Kenya Ports Authority, Cap 391, and further in consultation with the Board of Directors, I have this morning appointed Captain William Kipkemboi Ruto as the Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority for a period of three (3) years effective immediately.” Murkomen said through a quick dispatch to newsrooms.
The newly installed board made a quick recruitment process of the MD after the CS paid the institution a physical visit barely a month ago.
KPA has been on the limelight over massive graft cases notably the Sh3billion set aside and approved for the purchase of a piece of land for the Inland Container Deport in Nairobi (ICDN), in order to ease congestion but was diverted to finance the concreting of the Makongeni yard in Nairobi at a cost of Sh500 million, while Sh2 billion was used for dredging the Mombasa port.
According to the probe, only Sh500 million was retained for the original purpose.
Further, investigators revealed that the Makongeni yard is owned by Kenya Railway Corporation (KRC) and that although KPA had intended to purchase the plot, the deal collapsed.
Until his appointment, Ruto was serving as the General Manager of the Kisumu Port. He joined KPA in 2001.
Murkomen said Ruto’s long service to the public will be of great importance to the country’s economy, through KPA management exuding confidence in his success at the helm of the state corporation.
The seasoned mariner who started his career in 1991 at KPA as a Cadet Marine Deck Officer before rising through the ranks to be a General Manager, Operations and later a Harbour Maste.
Ruto holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) alumnus of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and an associate fellow of the Nautical Institute (AF-NI) and a member of the International Harbour Master’s Association (UK) having attained the highest qualification as a Ship Captain (Class 1 Master Mariner) from South Tyneside Marine College.
The board members comprising former Malindi MP Lucas Maitha, Musa Osman, Emmanuel Kibet, Consolata Lusweti and Caroline Njoki.
Among the 12 shortlisted for the lucrative top KPA job included Consultant Stanley Ndege Chai who managed to score 58.2 percent during a previous interview for the same post after being trounced by then Managing Director Catherine Mturi-Wairi in the race to replace former MD Gichiri Ndua.
A first time attempt, KPA General Manager for Lamu Port Vincent Sidai, former NSSF Managing Trustee-turned politician Alex Kazongo who served as KPA General Manager Finance and KPA General Manager Operation and Harbour Sudi Mwasingo had all shown interested in the top KPA job.
Other candidates who were eyeing for the position included Denis Lewa, Nicodemus Odongo, Rachel Musyoki, Halima Ali, Jane Chepkorir, Maingi and Kitimo Kombo.