By Tobby Otum
Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) Mombasa branch secretariat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andrew Ochieng has denied claims that chapter election which were carried out on March this year’s were not above board.
He pointed out that former branch chairman Rajab Hamisi and his immediate vice chairman Musa Mbira lost fairly during the contest where chaos erupted after the two sensed defeat.
“There was tension after preliminary results showed that association’s outgoing chairman was facing defeat by Leonard Njiru,” he said adding that there were no security personnel during the voting exercise.
Ochieng said the branch elections were properly conducted and the new officials have been registered as duly elected.
In his letter of reply to the Registrar of Societies under the department of the Registrar General shared with the media he insisted the new branch officials have already been registered.
The KIFWA Mombasa branch secretariat CEO has asked the government to stop its suggestion of nullifying the outcome of last month’s election held within the county.
Ochieng said in the letter that mot possible for the secretariat to conduct a repeat of the March 26 elections.
He said according to the association’s constitution the time line set to challenge the election has elapsed.
“To make matters worse no official petition has been lodged with the association branch secretariat,” he pointed out.
The KIFWA Mombasa branch secretariat CEO said according to their position the just concluded association elections were properly conducted.
Ochieng said on his reply that the association branch stakeholders had their say in the concluded elections adding that he believed time it is ripe for them to move on.
He added that time has come for the association stakeholders to move from the election cycle and to focus ahead.
He insisted the branch elections held last month were free, fair and credible despite a section of clearing agents causing mayhem.
“The branch elections were a culmination of several processes which were subjected to rigorous reviews and oversight,” he pointed out.
The association Mombasa branch secretariat CEO pointed out that the just conducted branch elections during their Annual General Meeting (AGM) were in compliance with the requirements of the amended association’s constitution of 19th December 2025.
“All the required notices were provided, candidates were vetted and shortlisted,” he pointed out.
Ochieng added on his letter that the voter register was audited and, ultimately in seeking to put the record straight, the elections were conducted by a person associated with the industry.
He further said in his letter of response that he himself ensured it was under the supervision of an advocate of the high court and a state counsel from the office of the Registrar of Societies.
In a letter from the Registrar of Societies signed by Teresia Gathangu the officer advised KIFWA Mombasa branch secretariat to consider facilitating the conducting of repeat elections in consultation with all relevant stakeholders to ensure an orderly and credible process.