Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has appointed Captain William Kipkemboi Ruto as the new Managing Director for the Kenya Ports Authority.

In a Gazette Notice dated March 10, 2023, CS Mukomen said Capt. Ruto would serve in the MD position for a period of three years.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5 (1) of the Kenya Ports Authority Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport appoints Capt. William K. Ruto to be the Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 10th March, 2023,” read the notice.

The position of Managing Director at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has been vacant for the last 3 years.

During this period, to ensure the continuity of KPA’s businesses, the Board made several appointments to the position in an Acting capacity.

According to CS Murkomen, the Authority’s board had received over 75 applications for the position during the recruitment exercise but settled for Ruto as the most qualified candidate.

“Following the recruitment exercise carried out by the Board of Directors of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) from 23rd December 2022, the authority received seventy-five (75) applications,” the CS stated.

He added: “After a rigorous and intensive recruitment process, the Board of Directors has this morning submitted a report and recommendation to my office for the appointment of Captain William Kipkemboi Ruto, having attained the highest aggregate score from the interview process.”

Prior to his appointment, Capt Ruto was the General Manager of the Kisumu Port. 

He boasts over 32 years of experience having started his career in 1991 as a Cadet Marine Deck Officer at KPA before rising through the ranks to be a General Manager, Operations and later a Harbour Master. 

Capt Ruto holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and has attained the highest qualification as a Ship Captain (Class 1 Master Mariner) from South Tyneside Marine College, UK. 

He is also an associate of the Nautical Institute (AF-NI), a member of the International Harbour Master’s Association in the United Kingdom.