Ruto Fires 4 Uhuru Appointees

President William Ruto on Monday, January 8 revoked the appointment of four members of the Kenya Railways Corporation Board of Directors.

The announcement was communicated via a Special Kenya Gazette issue Vol. CXXVI—No. 3.

The four members were notably appointed during the tenure of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 (3) of the State Corporations Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, revokes the appointment of— Mohammed Alawi Hussun, Dennis Aroka, Catherine Musakali, Sumaiya Salim Mohamed, as members of the Board of Directors of the Kenya Railways Corporation,” the Gazette notice read in part.

As indicated in the Gazette notice, the revocation of the appointments took place immediately.

Alawi and Musakali were appointed by the Jubilee administration on October 6, 2021.

Aroka and Salim were appointed as KRC Boards of Directors the following year, on July 8, 2022, and July 13, 2022, respectively.

The four whose tenures were terminated by the Head of State served as Independent Directors at the KRC.

Alawi had notably worked as a commissioner at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). 

Musakali on his part had served in the energy sector before his appointment to the board while Aroka previously worked with the National Irrigation Authority.

Salim is an expert in project management, corporate communications and brand strategy. Prior to her tenure at the KRC board, she served as a Project Manager in the logistics field, undertaking projects in the oil and gas, freight and transport industries.

President Ruto did not however announce the replacements of the four sacked board members.

The Board of Directors has 10 members with Captain Mohamed Abdi serving as the Chairman. 

Other members include; Njuguna Ndung’u (Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury), Mohamed Daghar, Duncan Hunda, Humphrey Muhu, and Captain William Ruto (Managing Director, Kenya Ports Authority).

It is believed that this move would pave the way for more reforms in the country's transport city starting with Kenya Railways, which is expected to record significant improvements following a deal signed between Kenya and the United Kingdom to modernise the Central Station.

The new rehabilitated station will be known as Railway City which will feature state-of-the-art facilities and services meant to enhance urban mobility.

Proposed new Nairobi Railway City. /FILE