Political affiliation and loyalty are said to be among the reasons behind the recent reshuffle at the Kenya Ports Authority which saw some senior officers being demoted while others promoted.
A total 16 top officers were moved in the new changes.
According to a source within the management, most of those who have been promoted are officers perceived to be allied to Deputy President William Ruto especially Erick Kotut and Moses Sirgoli.
Erick Kotut was promoted to the position of head of ethics and integrity after the post fell vacant following the retirement of Sylvester Ndongoli who was heading the department.
Before the appointment of Kotut, Joseph Okhako was the one who was acting as head of the department.
"Okhako should have be the one to take over but too bad he has just fallen a victim of circumstance" said the source.
Okhako has now been transferred to the Inland Container Depot (ICD) Kisumu as principal officer.
Moses Sirgoli who is also said to be a close ally of DP Ruto was elevated to the position of Principal procurement officer( Tender opening and evaluation committee) taking over from Aza Dzengo who is now the acting head of procurement and supplies.
Before his promotion, Sirgoli was supplies officer in charge of the medical store at KPA Bnadari clinic.
The source asserted "What the MD Daniel Manduku is doing is realigning his team of loyalists, that's why he demoted officers who he thinks were loyal to his predecessor Catherine Muturi including Mariam Khamis and Fredrick Oyugi"
Mariam Khamis has since been demoted from being the head of security services and transferred to the ICD Nairobi as head of ICT, according to the source the office never existed before.
Fredrick Oyugi who was the head of audit and risk has also been transferred to Nairobi as the head of SGR reconciliation another office that is said to be new and never existed before.
Ali Mwinjika a very close ally of a Mombasa based tycoon and wheeler- dealer has been promoted to the position of principal procurement officer (purchasing and contractor), before his promotion, Mwinjika was a procurement officer.
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