The port authority’s top official has been credited with running Bandari well.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Executive Committee Coast representative Gabriel Mghendi has hailed the appointment of Bandari FC chairman Captain William Ruto as the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director.
Ruto’s appointment was announced by Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, in a gazette notice Friday.
Mghendi said the appointment is set to have a positive impact on the development of sports in the coastal region.
"Captain Ruto has been tried and tested, having succeeded as Bandari FC chairman. "Based on that from our assessment as FKF, we give him a clean bill of health in delivering in his job as the KPA Managing Director," Mghendi told the press.
"He managed Bandari well, and we have confidence that he will deliver in his new post and as well promote sports at the Coast owing to his goodwill and influential position."
The new appointee took over from John Mwangemi, who held the position in an acting capacity since 2022. Mwangemi had replaced Rashid Salim, who held the seat - also on an interim basis - since the exit of Daniel Manduku in March 2020.
Ruto is a trained mariner by profession and joined KPA in 2001, first as a senior marine pilot, before rising to become the General Manager of Port Operations and Harbour Master.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Bandari registered another victory after they downed Nzoia Sugar 1-0 at Mbaraki Stadium.
The goal scored by Joe Waithira moved the Dockers to the eighth position, while the Sugar Millers are in fifth.
With Ruto now at the helm of KPA, Bandari’s primary sponsor, supporters will now wait and see whether the appointment will propel them to their first Premier League title.