Port authority might hire new staff

The newly appointed Kenya Ports Authority general manager, board and legal services Addraya Dena (right) looks on as the acting managing director Catherine Mturi-Wairi (left) address journalists at the KPA boardroom, March 01, 2016.  [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

The management of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is considering hiring new workers to bridge a staff shortfall.

KPA's acting Managing Director, Catherine Mturi, said yesterday that the authority was conducting a "holistic staff rationalisation exercise to ascertain staff deficits". The outcome of the exercise will determine whether or not new staff are hired.

The new workforce would enable the authority to effectively operate a new container terminal at the Mombasa port, which according to Dock Workers Union Secretary General Simon Sang', would require an additional 2,000 employees to run effectively. The port already has about 7,500 employees.

In November last year, the authority sacked 129 employees found to have secured employment and promotions using fake academic and professional certificates.

Mid last year, over 4,000 job seekers flooded KPA offices after the authority called for applications to fill vacancies left by employees who had gone on strike over National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) rates. Ms Mturi said those who had applied to replace the striking workers would be given priority in any new recruitment.

On Monday, Japan's Toyo Construction Ltd handed over the first phase of the Sh31.5 billion terminal to KPA. "Because of the legal issues surrounding the concession, the authority will in the meantime run the new terminal. As from next year, we will be required to pay the loan that financed its construction," said Mturi.