Transport CS Macharia snubs Senate summons for the third time

The Senate Roads and Transport Committee has summoned Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia to appear before it within 14 days after he skipped Thursday’s sitting.

The committee also directed the Ministry of Transport to foot the cost of Mombasa Transport sector stakeholders who had been invited to attend the session.

CS Macharia was summoned over the tainted image of departments within his docket with the latest being the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) which has been stung by allegations of graft running into Ksh.2.7 billion.

The KPA Board is on Friday morning headed for a boardroom face-off to decide the fate of the top management team implicated in the graft probe.

CS Macharia’s no-show however infuriated the Senators as he had previously confirmed attendance only for him to attend a Cabinet meeting instead.

Among those present in the Thursday session included Transport sector stakeholders who had traveled from Mombasa County, the most affected by government directives at the port that has negatively impacted the county’s economy.

With a split board over the port scandal and summons to record statements on Monday for all board members, Senators are describing the CS Macharia’s move as an escapist ploy to avoid taking responsibility for the rot in departments under his docket.

Despite appearing at the Senate, KPA Managing Director Daniel Manduku remained tight lipped on links to the Ksh.2.7 billion scandal at the port.

A section of his board has demanded his suspension and an interim MD appointed until he has defended himself from the allegations.