Uproar at Coast Water Agency over Newly Created Positions

A section of workers at Coast Water Development Agency have raised concerns over the manner in which new positions were created and filled.
They want the matter be investigated as they claim the move was illegal.

The workers have asked the anti graft agency to intervene and stop more corruption being perpetuated at the agency.

The board at the agency initiated changes in the leadership structure by putting some of the staff on contract of years on a permanent and pensionable terms without advertising through the internal memo so that the other staff can apply for the same posts.
The Board created new positions of Directors of departments and shockingly all the positions were grabbed by the senior officers.

Those against the move claim the new organization structure is against the law and discriminates against other officers from getting an equal opportunity to be appointed.

New positions created include, Director-Infrastructure and projects management, Director-Financial services, Director-Legal services and Director-Human resource services.

The positions filled include, Finance Manager-Stephen Masaai, head of procurement Stanslus Jira head of procurement, Technical manager-Martin Tsuma, Acting CEO Human Resource Manager-Simon Charo Menza, Legal and company secretary-Mary Kioma and lastly Audit manager-Hamadi Mwazito.

“The board under stewardship of Omar Boga created an illegal Organization structure whereby they came up with Directors positions for each management position,” a source said
Stephen Maasai was an accountant and was given the position of finance in acting capacity but later he was confirmed as deputy Director Financial Services, a position he did not apply and was not advertised even through internal memo.

The move could however attract the attention of the Ministry of Water and the leadership changes are likely to be reviewed in the same manner Kenya Ports Authority new Managing Director Captain William Ruto reviewed the parastatal’s leadership structure when he took over office.

KPA Board chairman Benjamin Tayari said the changes were aimed at bolstering service delivery and correcting some mistakes done in the past.
“The management of the Authority appreciates enormous responsibility bestowed upon it for the better execution of its mandate; it undertakes the following staff reorganization to align its human resources to its strategic direction,” Tayari said in a statement.

Martin Tauma.

During the launch of the Sh25 billion Mwache Multipurpose Dam project in Kwale County on Thursday by President William Ruto, Governors Abdhulswamad Nassir Mombasa and his Kwale counterpart Fatuma Achani called on the head of state to deal firmly with mismanagement and corruption within state agencies.

The governors attributed poor water services to agencies with the CWDA being put on the spot by some of the leaders.

“We are asking you to quickly move and safeguard hundreds of Mombasa and Kwale people. This cartelism at Coast Water must come to an end, “said Nassir.

Some senior officers at the agency have been accused of creating artificial water  crises to suit their own interests like selling water through  private companies.

A senior EACC officer privy to the ongoing investigations said that such officers risk prosecution and as per the Human Resources management act and Muongozo guideline for state corporation it clearly states on how state officers should adhere to employment act.