ICT ministry officials, former Posta boss meet amid talks of possible comeback
By Steve Umidha, February 22, 2022
Postal Corporation of Kenya is in talks with its first Postmaster General and immediate former director of the Universal Postal Union Bishar Hussein (pictured) for a likely come back to help the parastatal restructure for growth.
Hussein, a specialised agency of the UN that coordinates postal policies among 192 member nations, has revealed meetings had indeed taken place with the ICT Ministry officials including its CS Joe Mucheru in what insiders believe could see him return to the firm two decades after he left in 2002.
Vast knowledge
Hussein confirmed that he met with ICT officials including CS Joe Mucheru last week and discussed a lot about this and how they can revamp the organisation based on his vast knowledge in the sector.
“I am available for whatever support they need from me…it is something that is being discussed at this point,” he said in an exclusive interview last week.
The ongoing talks – whose details are still scanty, may see Hussein – who also served as the Kenyan ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, tapped to join the organisation, albeit in an advisory position following his stints both at Posta and UPU, and helping the former while on the brinks of collapse in 1999.
“I am not in a position to reveal more details from those talks at this point, but when the ministry is ready I will be available to offer my support,” Hussein said.
The revelation comes barely a month after the current Postmaster General Dan Kagwe said in January that the organisation was awaiting the government’s nod to trim its staff and put others on short-term contracts in an attempt to return the wounded lion to profitability.
“We are awaiting Cabinet Memo approval to proceed with restructuring,” Kagwe was quoted as saying last month, in a painful process that is expected to hurt several of its employees, most of whom are yet to receive January and February salaries.