Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Capt. William Kipkemboi Ruto has been given 14 days to explain his continued stay in office amid a court petition challenging the legality of his tenure.
High Court Judge Jairus Naga directed Capt. Ruto and other respondents to file and serve their responses within 14 days saying that the case will return to court for further directions.
The petition, filed by Francis Awino, questions Capt. Ruto’s continued leadership of KPA, arguing that his three-year term expired on March 9, 2026.
Awino claims Capt. Ruto took office on March 10, 2023, and says no Gazette Notice or other publicly available document has been produced to show that his appointment was renewed or extended.
The petitioner is seeking court orders to temporarily stop Capt. Ruto from performing his duties as managing director while the case is heard and determined.
He is also challenging the continued payment of the KPA boss’s salary, allowances and other benefits before the court resolves the dispute.
Awino wants KPA compelled to produce documents supporting Capt. Ruto’s continued stay in office, including board resolutions, minutes, approvals and any relevant appointment or extension instruments.
The petition argues that allowing a public officer to continue exercising authority while the validity of their tenure is in question raises concerns over public accountability and the use of public resources and cites several constitutional provisions on public authority, leadership, integrity and public finance, alongside sections of the Government Owned Enterprises Act, 2025.
Awino says the application seeks only interim orders to preserve the matter until the court makes a final determination, rather than a ruling on the entire dispute at this stage.
