CS Macharia to face MPs’ wrath over dubious KPA deal

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Cabinet Secretary is set to face a myriad of questions by MPs after a parliamentary session to deliberate a proposed takeover bid of a terminal by the Kenya National Shipping Line from the Kenya Ports Authority ended prematurely on Thursday.

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This is after Members of the National Assembly committee on Transport turned away Shipping and Maritime Affairs principal secretary Nancy Karigithu.

The David Pkosing-led committee sent the PS away after establishing the parastatal does not fall under her docket.

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The team said they will invite Transport Cabinet secretary James Macharia and PS Esther Koimett next Thursday.

On Tuesday, MPs Owen Baya (Kilifi North) and Zuleikha Hassan (Kwale Woman Rep) joined leaders from the region to reject the planned takeover bid through what they termed “backdoor”.

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At the session, the PS revealed that the shipping agency was hived off her docket and transferred to the State department of Transport through an Executive Order in 2016.

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Elsewhere, a Chinese firm awarded the multi-billion-shilling Greenfield Terminal tender now wants Sh17.6 billion compensation over the cancellation of contract.

The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee (PIC) heard yesterday that Anhui Constructions Engineering Group Limited had hit the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) with the claim despite having been paid Sh4.3 billion in advance.

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But KAA managing director Jonny Anderson allayed fears of a possible dispute over the matter saying the authority had made a counter claim.

“We have instead made a counter claim for a refund of Sh4.3 billion paid to the contractor as advance payment,” Anderson said.

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The contract was terminated in 2016 after the Cabinet advised against its construction, arguing that it was not viable.

“As the custodian of KAA, I stand by the position that the contract was illegal and I want that money paid back,” said Andersen.

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