A fresh legal dispute is unfolding at the High Court after activist Francis Awino filed a petition against the Managing Director of Kenya Railways, Phillip Mainga, accusing him of mismanagement and abuse of office.
Awino, who is seeking a court order to have Mainga dismissed, claims that the Kenya Railways boss has caused significant financial strain on the corporation, placing it among the top government agencies that are draining taxpayer money.
“A closer examination of the corporation under Mainga paints a picture of mismanagement, questionable decision-making, and controversies surrounding financial accountability, project execution, and land disputes,” Awino states in his petition.
Additionally, Awino accuses Mainga of obstructing the implementation of the ambitious Nairobi Railway City project, which has secured a Ksh 181 billion commitment from the United Kingdom.
“The project has encountered setbacks due to mismanagement and tender disputes. The UK government has since suspended funding, citing irregularities, further tarnishing Mainga’s leadership, with the President being forced to intervene by engaging UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer,” Awino alleges in his petition.
Awino also claims that Mainga has entangled Kenya Railways in multiple land disputes, with several eviction exercises carried out under his leadership.
“The corporation has faced accusations of mishandling compensation funds meant for displaced residents, particularly in Embakasi, where affected individuals have not received their rightful payments,” Awino adds.
Recently, Kenya Railways has faced accusations from Opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua, who allege the corporation has been involved in the illegal appropriation of land belonging to retired railway staff.
“Kenya Railways, under a Cabinet memo vested in their retirement scheme, owns this property. It has come to their shocking attention that a person high up in government, notorious for grabbing public land, is at it again. They have chased the poor pensioners out of their property on Valley Road, and the said property is now under police protection while a private developer demolishes the homes of the poor retirees,” said Kalonzo. “Although the title of the property has changed, the beneficial owners are the retirees. It is not available to the government or any land grabber, as it belongs to the retirees,” Karua stated
