Lobbying has intensified in earnest in the battle to succeed embattled former Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] Managing Director Daniel Manduku.

This is after the just concluded two day interviews for shortlisted candidates held at Hazina Towers in Nairobi by a panel under the supervision of KPA board of directors chairman Joseph Kibwana.

According to a source, the interviews involving all 8 shortlisted candidates were conducted on Monday and Tuesday.

Among the names already submitted for appointment are former Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport Corridor (LAPPSET) project chief executive officer Silvester Kasuku, former Principal Secretary at the Gender ministry Mwanamaka Mabruki, she previously worked at the port.

Others are KPA General Manager in charge of Kisumu port Sudi Mwasingo, who will be making his second attempt at the post , the Infrastructure Director - Northern Corridor at TradeMark East Africa James Ngang'a, Murshid Rashid and former KPA General Manager Human Resource and Administration  Amani Komora.

The board is now expected to present their recommendations to Treasury cabinet secretary Ukur Yatani before he forwards them to President Uhuru Kenyatta for appointment.

KPA advertised for the position of managing director on April 8 last year after the resignation of Daniel Manduku.

In June last year a court in Mombasa barred the KPA board of directors from conducting interviews following a petition filed by a human rights activist accusing the board of not following the law.

The board was however finally given the nod to hire the managing director after the Employment and Labour Relations Court set aside the petition saying it lacked merit.