MPs grill ports boss over waived storage charges

KPA Managing Director Capt William Ruto, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri and Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri during Public Investments committee on commercial affairs and energy at Mombasa Serena Hotel. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

The new Kenya Ports Authority KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto had a hard task explaining decisions made by his predecessors that may have cost the agency millions of shillings.

A parliamentary watchdog grilled Ruto about waivers amounting to Sh242,268,295 during the financial year ending on June 30, 2020.

This is months after Ruto also put tough conditions for the waiver. The MD has also suspended credit facilities following reports of misuse.

He instructed all traders to settle the debts by July, adding that some customers had huge outstanding debt putting a strain on the authority's ability to meet financial obligations.

Ruto who came to the office in March has instituted significant changes aimed at ensuring financial stability and maintaining optimal service delivery to the customers of the Authority.

An internal investigation has been launched to establish employees behind the misuse of the ledger/credit facility at the port.

But during the grilling, Members of the Parliamentary Investment Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy said the government might have lost port revenue due to these waivers.

During the session at Serena Beach Hotel in Mombasa, MPs requested the KPA policy document to assess whether a review done during the former MDs was necessary to ensure fair treatment of all port users and prevent port officials from benefiting through waivers.