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Jomvu Member of Parliament Badi Twalib has strongly defended embattled Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director (MD) Capt. William Ruto against graft allegations related to procurement.
Speaking at Kajembe High School during the disbursement of Sh21 million in bursaries to 1,755 college and university students under the National Government-Constituency Development Fund, Twalib praised Capt. Ruto for his dedication to transforming the Port of Mombasa.
Through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, the MP revealed that KPA has donated 20 computers to Kajembe High School. Additionally, two classrooms and a perimeter wall are under construction at Miritini Primary School.
“A friend in need is a friend indeed,” Twalib stated, adding that he is appalled by the sensational article published in one of the dailies alleging procurement improprieties at the Authority.
The MD, he said, was chosen on merit, unlike previous MDs who were appointed politically and lacked port management experience.
“The MD, Capt. William Ruto, was recently awarded by the Port Management of East Africa as the best MD for his efforts in revamping the Port of Mombasa,” Twalib pointed out.
He lauded the MD for the operationalisation of the Port of Lamu, which has been positioned as a transshipment hub.
The MP took a swipe at cartels who, for years, have been controlling the Port procurement businesses, saying they have hit a snag as Capt. Ruto is an insider in the Port operations and knows their machinations.
Meanwhile, through a press statement, KPA has reaffirmed its commitment to integrity, transparency, and accountability in the procurement process.
“KPA has taken note of recent media reports alleging irregularities in certain procurement processes within the organisation. These media reports do not reflect the facts or the operational standards of KPA,” read the statement in part from the Corporate Communication Department.
According to the statement, preliminary internal assessments indicate that the documents cited in the media reports were either taken out of context, misinterpreted, or selectively presented in a manner intended to mislead the public and tarnish the reputation of the Authority.
“KPA remains open to constructive scrutiny and is fully committed to maintaining the trust of the people of Kenya.”
