Questions Raised Over Secret Reappointment Of Philip Mainga As KRC MD

The Board of Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) quietly extended the term of managing director Philip Mainga, handing him a second three-year term before the end of the Jubilee administration. The unexpected extension has caused ripples in the corporation with allegations running back and forth that it was un procedural and more grave accusation that the board was bribed to see the re-appointment through, a norm in many state corporations.

Mainga who many viewed as an Ardent Azimio supporters amongst corporation bosses mentioned to have oiled the unsuccessful Raila presidential bid, is lucky to have been reappointed to Run SGR at a time when Kenya Kwanza administration is streamlining the transport sector that has previously been marred with corruption by replacing the previous admin loyalists with their own.

Questions are raised as to who the appointment was made despite the reports that majority of the board didn’t want him.

According to reports, Staff morale is at an all-time low at Kenya Railways and the disturbed staff are now asking the president not to allow Mainga to have another term.

Mainga, an ardent Azimio supporter has been fighting an underground war together with the board and some senior officials who didn’t like his leadership style and hate towards the current president, William Ruto.

Mainga was lobbied to be the managing director by Kalonzo Musyoka and former prime minister Raila Odinga.

The allegations against of bribery and corruption are subjects that should interest EACC.

The extension will see Mr Mainga serve at the state corporation currently charged with effective management of the standard gauge railways (SGR) trains among other functions until 2026.Mr Mainga took over the job substantively in January 2020.Before then, he was the acting boss at the state corporation after the suspension of the former boss Atanas Maina in August 2018 on corruption allegations.

The Managing Director Mainga executed a flawed deal with Africa Star Railways (Afristar), the Chinese operator for the SGR line, which ran largely unchecked where Kenya Railways lost up to Sh.1.4m daily. The contract was signed during Athanas Maina’s tenure and was initiated by Mainga himself.