By Mangale Gumbao
Concerns have been raised over the manner in which new positions were created and ultimately filled at the Coast Water Development agency.
The board at the agency initiated changes in the leadership structure by putting some of the staff on contract (3 years) on a permanent and pensionable term without advertising through the internal memo so that the other staff can apply for the same posts. The Board created new positions of Directors of departments and shockingly all the positions were grabbed by the senior officers.
Those against the move claim the new organization structure is against the law and discriminates against other officers from getting an equal opportunity to be appointed.
New positions created include, Director-Infrastructure and projects management, Director-Financial services, Director-Legal services and Director-Human resource services.
The positions are currently filled as follows, Finance Manager-Stephen Masaai, head of procurement Stanslus Jira head of procurement, Technical manager-Martin Tsuma, Acting CEO Human Resource Manager-Simon Charo Menza, Legal and company secretary-Mary Kioma and lastly Audit manager-Hamadi Mwazito.
“The board under stewardship of Omar Boga, the former MCA from Msambweni sub-county Kwale County created an illegal Organization structure whereby they came up with Directors positions for each management position,” a source said.
Stephen Maasai was an Accountant and was given the position of Finance in acting capacity but later he was confirmed as deputy Director Financial Services, a position he did not apply and was not advertised even through Internal MEMO.
The move could however attract the attention of the Ministry of Water and the leadership changes are likely to be reviewed in the same manner Kenya Ports Authority new Managing Director Captain William Ruto reviewed the parastatal’s leadership structure when he took over office.
KPA Board Chairman Benjamin Tayari said the changes were aimed at bolstering service delivery and correcting some mistakes done in the past.
“The management of the Authority appreciates enormous responsibility bestowed upon it for the better execution of its mandate; it undertakes the following staff reorganization to align its human resources to its strategic direction,” Tayari said in a statement.
General managers in KPA were the big casualties in the reforms which have seen Daniel Ogutu who was serving as the General Manager Human Resource and Administration moved to Shimoni port as the Project manager.
Anderson Mtalaki who was the General Manager Engineering services has been moved to Dockyard as Principal Engineer, Engineer Julius Tai who initially served as Head of Container Terminal Engineering has been moved to Ag. General Manager Engineering services.
During the launch of the Sh25 billion Mwache Multipurpose Dam project in Kwale County on Thursday by President William Ruto, Governors Abdhulswamad Nassir Mombasa and his Kwale counterpart Fatuma Achani called on the head of state to deal firmly with mismanagement and corruption within state agencies.
The governors attributed poor water services to agencies with the CWWDA being put on the spot by some of the leaders.
“We are asking you to quickly move and safeguard hundreds of Mombasa and Kwale people. This cartelism at Coast Water must come to an end, “said Governor Nassir.
Some senior officers at the agency have severally been accused of creating artificial water crises to suit their own interests like selling water through private companies.
A senior EACC officer privy to the ongoing investigations said that such officers risk prosecution and as per the Human Resources management act and Muongozo guideline for state corporation it clearly states on how state officers should adhere to employment act.
“Cabinet secretary for public service, gender and affirmative action Aisha Jumwa must bring the board chair Daniel Katama Mwaringa into notice, the parastatal is rotten,” he said.