Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen has directed Kenya Ports Authority board to abolish the new bloated management structure which was allegedly implemented without the involvement of the Public Service Commission.
The PSC has distanced itself from the process that led to the adoption of the structural changes at the port of Mombasa.
According to a report by the PSC, any structural changes made at KPA without its approval are illegal and unconstitutional.
The PSC says the development or review of the organisation structure of a public service entity such as KPA should be approved by the PSC before it is implemented.
PSC further says it never received a request to establish any new positions or review the organisational structure of KPA as required by law as the parastatal fell under its mandate.
The new structure has created a bloated management with overlapping roles, a move raising concern on wastage of public funds.
Sources at the port claim Murkomen has since directed the KPA board to dismantle the new organisation structure which created 14 positions of general managers and revert back to the old lean structure.
Other reports claim top managers who are beneficiaries of the controversial structure have allegedly been fundraising to counter the CS’s move through the courts and other avenues.
The CS had promised during his vetting by parliament that he would be decisive in fighting corruption at the port of Mombasa in a bid to make the parastatal more efficient.
KPA has been known to be under the influence of cartels who control how the parastatal is run outside the official channels.
They also tightly control procurement and determine who wins which tender
