NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has revoked the appointment of Irungu Nyakera as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), replacing him with Samuel Waweru Mwangi.
In a gazette notice dated April 1, 2025, Ruto appointed Mwangi to the position for a three-year term, effective immediately.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 43 (I) (a) of the Tourism Act, as read together with section 51 (I) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Samuel Waweru Mwangi to be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre for a period of three (3) years, with effect from April 1, 2025. The appointment of Irungu Nyakera is revoked,” the notice reads.
Nyakera, reacting to the revocation on his Facebook page, wrote, “I feel SPECIAL to be fired through a special issue. They could not wait for Friday.”
His removal comes days after he announced that he would not attend President Ruto’s tour of the Mount Kenya region, citing academic commitments at Oxford University.
“I will not be present during the President’s upcoming visit to Mt Kenya as I am still in school at Oxford University. That said, I want to share my message with the people and leaders of Mt Kenya,” he posted.
Despite his absence, Nyakera urged the Mount Kenya community to prioritize development over politics during Ruto’s visit.
“In the last election, Mt Kenya voted for development, and development, as we all know, comes through the Office of the President. When he visits next week, let our focus be on that development—not on the politics,” the former Transport Principal Secretary stated.
Nyakera warned that political divisions could hinder the region’s progress, citing historical examples. “History has taught us harsh lessons. When Mzee Jomo Kenyatta visited Kisumu with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and was received with hostility, development in that region came to a halt for decades,” he noted.
He also referenced former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s final term, arguing that internal political wrangles in the region resulted in lost development opportunities.
“A time for politics will come—but it is not now, and it is certainly not next week. This is a time to engage constructively, to secure what we voted for, and to prioritize the needs of our people,” he concluded.
