Protesting Portland Cement employees halt operations over new CEO Bruno Obodha

Workers at the East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) on Monday, December 23, shut down operations and barricaded the main gate of the Athi River plant, in protest against the appointment of a new managing director.

The workers shut down operations at the giant cement processor two days after Bruno Obodha was appointed by President William Ruto last Friday to replace Mohammed Osman Adan, who had been serving in an acting capacity.

But a section of the workers rejected the new appointment, shut down the kiln and barricaded the main gate of the factory with tractors, bringing operations to a complete halt.

 Mr Obodha was expected at the factory on Monday morning but failed to report after the standoff.

For most of the day, no lorries were allowed in or out of the factory, while armed police officers, normally deployed to guard the factory, looked on helplessly.

In a statement read by Mr Alex Muluwa, the workers told the Nation that they had no confidence in the new appointee.

They said the new CEO had a potential conflict of interest that he should declare.

They also demanded that the board make public the interview scores of all candidates for the top job.

The agitated workers now want President Ruto and the Public Service Commission to cancel Mr Obodha's appointment. They have also vowed to continue paralysing operations at the company until their demands are met.

Mr Obodha was competing against acting managing director Mohammed Aden, who employees said topped the interviews, and Dr Justa Mwangi in the race to replace Oliver Kirubai, who left after two and a half years.

The cement giant is disposing of some of its prime land and is eyeing Sh45 billion to turn around the company, which is currently said to be producing 50,000 tonnes per month, the highest since 2008.