AFRICA

New Kenyan Ports’ boss to target reform

16 years ago

Yet another new managing director -the fourth in ten years- has been appointed at Kenyan Ports Authority, although this time with a remit to introduce reform needed to boost the competitiveness of the port of Mombasa.

Port Strategy: Gichiri Ndua is the fourth KPA boss in ten years

No recent chief executive has stayed long enough to have had a major impact.

However, in June, the World Bank issued a report criticising the reliance Kenya places on a single import-export facility and also on the fact that KPA directors needed to be more suitably qualified.

Nevertheless, before the appointment of Gichiri Ndua to the post of managing director, no attempt was made to advertise the vacant position widely.

Neither of the two previous managing directors completed their full three-year term, meaning that promised reforms stayed on the shelf.

According to the World Bank, narrow vested interests had effectively undermined investment and reform at Mombasa. It has urged the Kenyan government to attract private investment, which would create more jobs, boost efficiency at the port and have a positive impact on regional growth.