Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Catherine Mturi-Wairi Fired

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Catherine Mturi-Wairi has been sent home for reportedly failing to meet performance targets.

The decision to suspend her was unanimously passed by KPA board of directors during its 345th Special Meeting on Wednesday.

Her suspension comes after a series of system failure that have gripped port operations in the last seven days, including a break down of systems of cargo evacuation.

"This has led to serious systems congestion of the port," Michael Maina, one of the board's director said.

Maina, who chaired the board's 345th meeting said Dr Daniel Manduku had been appointed as the new Managing Director in acting capacity for 60 days.

"The board observed that the above situation can only be explained by lack of effective leadership," said Maina.

Transport Principal Secretary Prof. Paul Maringa told the Star that the new MD has been tasked to resolve the challenges at the country's biggest port within two months.

"Over the last seven days, we had over 22,000 containers at the yard. The MD could not explain this congestion," Maringa said.

These system failures at the port have resulted to massive delays in cargo clearance, costing both importers and the country millions in revenue. Mturi-Wairi was appointed to head the port in July 2016.