Mombasa Businessmen Call for KPA Board Disbandment Amid Graft Accusations

A section of Mombasa businessmen have now called on President William Ruto to disband with immediate effect the entire Board of Directors and Kenya Ports Authority.

Led by Mombasa businessman Athman Haroun Ismael, Kenga Mrima from Kilifi, Yatour Kirui among others the businessmen have cautioned that the current board has no moral authority and capacity to help fight graft and elevate the status of the port through prudent decision making.

They have named the board chairman Benjamin Dalu Tayari, Transport PS, Mohamed Daghar, Lucas Maitha, Lawrence Kibet ,Dr. Consolata Lusweti ,Daniel Muriungi Mugao and Beatrice Nyamoita as a dangerous threat to the future of KPA and an impediment to businesses that rely heavily on KPA.

This is following media reports that put the agency on the spot over procurement irregularities with the board linked to conflict of interest in tender award processes.

The board has been blamed for inflated contracts, shadowy tenders and deliberate bypassing of procurement laws to siphon taxpayer’s money.

Mr. Benjamin Tayari who as the board chairman is specifically on the spot for aiding corrupt state cartels and using his proxy companies to land lucrative tender deals, Dr. Consolata Lusweti, who is an appointee of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is also on the spot in an inflated tender deal worth million of shillings.

The board chair is also accused of acquiring a Sh40 Million brand new car while Consolata is using proceeds from corruption activities to finance her political ambitions in Kakamega.

She has also been accused of secretly pushing and protecting illegal tender deals for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula.

“From the onset we want to make it clear that we are extremely appalled but at the same time not surprised by these revelations unmasking the unprecedented looting spree at KPA. We raised our concerns when the Board of Directors was named in 2023,”

They claim that the government opted for tenderpreneur politicians at the expense of corporate management merit.

They have also asked investigative agencies to crack the whip on corrupt officials at the biggest revenue making state agency.

“Today we are taking a bold stand as stakeholders within the Mombasa Business Community to challenge the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, The Director of Criminal Investigations,Asset Recovery Agency and all relevant oversight and regulatory bodies to individually institute investigations into the dealings of the individual board members,” it further reads.

They have challenged President William Ruto to disband the entireBoard of Directors to pave way for serious investigations.

“We specifically call on the investigative agencies to narrow down on the Board Chairman Benjamin Tayari, Lucas Maitha and Dr.Consolata Lusweti.The three have been mentioned for using proxy companies to siphon KPA coffers,”

They claimed that Dr.Consolata Lusweti was awarded a tender worth over Sh200m for painting stands at Likoni channel – A tender executed by a Somali businessman identified as Yusuf who came in as a proxy.

Through a press statement, KPA 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.

But the business community claims the board is full of politicians who have zero interest in the growth of the port and related businesses.

“To our understanding, the Board Chairman is still interested in Kilifi County politics thus in conjunction with the board, unilaterally engaged in financial malpractices to fundraise for their political ambitions, Dr. Consolata has already declared interest in the Kakamega Women Representative seat and her source of resources have been questioned. At the same time, their colleague Lucas Maitha has been preparing for a bigger political seat and using his position at KPA to manipulate tenders,”