Captains and logistics sector operators have congratulated Captain William Kipkemboi Ruto following his appointment as the Managing Director (MD) of the Kenya Port Authority (KPA) by transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday.
The MD for the KPA position has been vacant for three years following the resignation of Daniel Manduku back in 2020. However, this position was held by Ambassador John Mwangemi in an acting capacity.
Speaking in a press conference in Mombasa the National Chairman of Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA), Roy Mwanthi said that the new MD has been General Manager for the operation of the Kisumu port making him fit for the post.
Mwanthi noted that they look forward to operations being streamlined within the port of Mombasa, International Container Distributor (ICD) Nairobi, and ICD in Naivasha.
KIFWA’s boss said they expect prodigious collaboration with the new MD, KPA, and other stakeholders in ensuring that there are seamless cargo clearing and forwarding services offered to Kenyans and other East African countries.
“We would like to wish Captain Ruto a very successful tenure at KPA as we expect increased productivity, growth, efficiency in the port and even reawakening of ports like Lamu and increased activities in every place cargo is handled from,” said Mwanthi.
Ruto will effectively start reporting to the Board of Directors as an ex officio member of the board and will have the executive responsibility for operating port services and facilities as well as maintaining, improving, and regulating all scheduled seaports on the Indian Ocean Kenyan Coastline.
The Managing Director of Weston Logistics Limited Salim Nassib Mbarak stated that Captain Ruto deserved the position given that he has been in the industry for a long time thus he understands very well the challenges behind his task.
“We are pleased with that appointment for we know very well that the port will be served very well for the interest of stakeholders and the entire public of KPA for the benefit of this country,” said Mbarak.
“We need people who understand the port operation and especially those who have worked from scratch to the highest position just like in the case of Ruto,” Mbarak added.
The Mombasa KIFWA Branch Chairman Leonard M. Njiru, on his part, gave his thumbs-up of approval to the newly appointed MD stating that the needs of the port of Mombasa will be met hence solving many problems in the East and Central Africa region.
He promised to give his full support in ensuring there is a competitive environment within the coastline of East Africa and in making our port world-class.
“We want to call upon business people within the region to consider highly using our port as the entry point for their importation and exportation of goods for we now have confidence in the new MD and his ability to find solutions to operationalization challenges facing the Port of Mombasa,” said Njiru.
By Michael Maluta
