High Court blocks Presidential appointee at troubled cement maker

By Today Financial News Reporter

Management crisis a the troubled East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) deepened Wednesday after the High Court blocked Mr Isaac Ole Mapenay from taking over as chairman of the board.Industrialisation minister Amason Kingi sacked board

Mr Mapenay was appointed by President on Friday last week to replace Mr Mark ole Karbolo whose team has waged a running court battle with the government after acting Industrialisation Minister Amason Kingi sent them packing in December last year.

High Court Judge Mohammed Warsame suspended the appointment of Mapenay until March 16 when the case will be heard.

Mr Karbolo had moved to court Wednesday to challenge his sacking by the President in an announcement made in a special gazette notice published on February 10.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6 (1) (a) of the State Corporations Act, I, Mwai Kibaki, President and Commander- in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, appoint Isaac Mpapuluu ole Mapenay (Dr) to be Chairman of the East African Portland Cement Company Limited, for a period of three (3) years,” read the notice signed by the Head of State.

Korbolo argued before Justice Mohammed Warsame that there has been concerted effort by the government to change the composition of the board by removing some members.

Boardroom wrangles came out in the open in December 2011 and have since been played out in the courts. Company employees also joined the fray early last month crippling operations at the second largest cement maker.

The workers have also been calling for the removal of the board and the Managing Director Kephar Tande for corruption allegations that they have vehemently denied and instead accusing the government for interfering with the running of the company.