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A recent recruitment of top managers at the Kenya Railways Corporation has led to uproar with some permanent employees crying foul play for being overlooked in favour of “outsiders.”

Senior employees now accuse the board of allegedly going out to shop for outsiders while completely ignoring qualified insiders who could have taken up the positions.

“Contrary to expectations, many internal staff either shunned to apply for lack of trust in the process, and the few that applied were not considered,” one of the Kenya Railways managers told the People Daily.

At the centre of the controversy is the move by the board to advertise and fill positions of General Manager Corporate Services, General Manager Business and Commercial, General Manager Finance, General Manager Procurement and General Manager Legal Services.

Two internal managers who had previously served in senior positions were considered unsuitable despite being experienced, competent and in good standing, fuelling speculation that the process was meant to eliminate those with organisational memory as top managers prepare to exit in looming parastatal shakeups.

Sources told People Daily only one internal staff member was shortlisted and considered for interview and appointment. One of the hired managers, Benedict Kiema Kavua (above), was recently in the news when he took his immediate former employer Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company to court for allegedly transferring him from the procurement and chain supply department.