Workers celebrate as board shows MD the door

CDA-MD-JAMES KAHINDI MANGI; James kahindi Mangi, former Managing Director of Coast Development Authority who has been sacked by the Board on Friday,012th,February,2016.PHOTO BY MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD

Another managing director of a Coast-based State corporation has been sent home.

Coast Development Authority (CDA) MD James Kahindi Mangi was removed by the board after a marathon two-day appraisal session of chief officers.

The organisations more than 200 workers led by Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied Workers Mombasa Secretary Wario Mainda celebrated Mr Mangi's exit, saying it was long overdue. They said delayed salaries and allowances and non-remittance of statutory deductions to the State had affected the morale of CDA employees.

"Workers' terms and conditions of services have not been reviewed for years. They have no medical cover and pension because the management has failed to make statutory contributions. We hope that the next managing director will address these problems and revive operations at CDA," Mr Mainda said yesterday.

Mangi's exit comes barely a week after the Kenya Ports Authority board kicked out managing director Gichiri Ndua and four other senior managers.

Confirming the removal of Mangi yesterday, CDA Chairman Suleiman Kamolleh said the chief manager in charge of planning, research and technical services, Josephine Rondo, has been appointed the acting managing director until the substantive MD is recruited.

The meeting that removed Mangi reportedly ended nearly at midnight on Friday. Some board members allegedly wanted Mangi to be retained.

Mr Kamolleh said the Ministry of Environment had given the board a chance to either remove Mangi or renew his term but members decided to send him home.

He also revealed that the MD was sent home without pay and that the board was seeking to raise money to settle his terminal package.

"The board however has not implicated the MD in any financial mismanagement. We just decided to send Mr Mangi home and get someone else for the position. We have no grudge against Mr Mangi but time had come for the board to inject new blood into CDA. We will be recruiting his replacement soon," Kamolleh said.