A general view of Berth 16 at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)/KNA
A group of political and rights activists from the Coast region has dismissed allegations that the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) irregularly recruited nearly 300 people in a recent exercise, terming the claims malicious and politically driven.
The activists, led by Center for Litigation Trust executive director Julius Ogogoh, said the petition challenging the recruitment process is misplaced and legally time-barred and accused those behind it of advancing hidden interests.
Speaking to The Star on Wednesday, Ogogoh defended the recruitment process, insisting that all successful applicants were Kenyans.
He said no foreign nationals were recruited in the exercise.
“No Ugandan, Tanzanian or Ethiopian was recruited in the recent exercise, adding that all those recruited are Kenyans who are guaranteed rights to work anywhere in the country by the Constitution,” Ogogoh said.
The petition, filed last Friday at the Mombasa High Court by Vocal Africa, Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) and She Rises, alleges that KPA failed to publish the shortlist of candidates, denying the public and applicants the ability to verify fairness and inclusivity in the recruitment process.
“The failure to disclose the shortlist undermined transparency and accountability, and further impeded the ability to assess compliance with constitutional requirements relating to inclusivity and representation of marginalised groups,” the petition reads.
The petition further states that some applicants who were shortlisted and interviewed were not informed of the outcome, raising concerns over procedural fairness.
“The lack of communication to unsuccessful candidates has occasioned uncertainty and raised legitimate concerns regarding the procedural fairness and integrity of the recruitment exercise,” it adds.
However, Ogogoh maintained that the recruitment process was fair and transparent, while questioning the motive behind the legal challenge.
He was backed by Kwale-based activist Juma Mwakapombe, who also dismissed the allegations and said critics of the process were being influenced by unnamed interests.
“In Kwale here, I personally know about five people who were recruited in the last exercise. These are at least five families which can now breathe easy because they now have a significant bread winner each,” Mwakapombe said.
Similar sentiments were echoed in Tana River by activist Jason Matolo, who said several residents from the county benefited from the recruitment.
“These are the ones I know. I strongly believe there are many others who I do not know,” Matolo said.
Ogogoh said his team conducted field visits across all six counties in the Coast region to verify whether residents had been recruited.
“We found out there have been several people from even those marginalised counties that successfully applied and were recruited, though not as many as we would have liked,” he said.
He added that the lower numbers could be linked to poverty levels and population distribution in the region.
At the same time, he suggested that external forces could be driving opposition to the recruitment exercise, although he acknowledged he could not fully substantiate the claim.
“This smells like cartels fighting back. I believe there are powerful people behind some of the activists, bloggers and TikTokers who are making all this noise about the recruitment exercise. But soon, we will know them,” Ogogoh said.
The activists warned that the ongoing dispute could damage investor confidence and urged calm and responsibility in handling the matter.
Lamu-based activist Faima Shukri also defended the recruitment process, describing it as transparent and inclusive.
“I thought this was one of the most transparent exercises. People were subjected to online interviews from the comfort of wherever they were, away from the intimidating things that accompany one-on-one interviews so that potential recruits are at their best when answering questions,” Shukri said.
“We are glad that we have had Lamu locals being recruited without godfathers in the port.”
As the matter heads to court, the competing narratives now set the stage for a legal and political test over the integrity of one of the country’s key state recruitment exercises.
