Coast leaders under the the Taireni Mijikeda Movement from Malindi in Kilifi County have strongly criticized the government's decision to expel former Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Catherine Muturi after being accused of failing to meet set targets and consistent failure during her stay in office.
In a joint statement to the press led by Gerald Thoya, they said that the action to sack Catherine did not reflect on her working performance but rather she was sacked as a ‘failure’ adding that the allegations made against her did not have any basis for the loss of her position as the managing director.“We are bitter, and we are angry for what our own daughter from the large Mijikenda community was treated, sacking her because of petty and a fake allegations is an insult to the community,” he said.He added that the allegations which were directed to Ms Mturi by the KPA board were far-fetched from the truth that has never been told.
“The main reason for the KPA board to sack Mturi was because of the breakdown of cargo system that result to congestion, yes there is congestion but who is creating this congestion, it’s not the KPA it’s the KRA that is supposed to be blamed over that, since cargo's were already out of the port,” he added.
Peter Ponda, the vice chairman of the movement expressed his concern about how the KPA board was conducting and recruiting new officials in the sector, saying that the board was not legitimate for the exercise, adding that the appointment of Ms Mturi was not given because of favoritism but because of she can deliver.“I am upset over this sacking issue of our own sister from coast has triggered many both locals and non-locals, it’s not fair at all, the allegations against her are malicious unwanted and witch-hunt,” he said.
Ponda said that the move by which Ms Muturi was forced to leave office was well planned to pave way for corrupt cartel to invade in the port and start looting prior to what Ms Catherine was against it.
However they have appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta and other Coastal leaders who have kept quite on the matter to intervene and to allow Catherine Mturi resume her work as head of the KPA.
This comes few days after the KPA board led by chairman Michael Maina appointed Daniel Manduku as the acting MD of the KPA for a period of 2 months waiting further directions.