Irungu Nyakera Ousted as KICC Chair After Snubbing Ruto’s Mt Kenya Visit
President William Ruto has officially revoked the appointment of Irungu Nyakera as the chairperson of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) board and named Samuel Waweru Mwangi as his replacement.
According to a gazette notice dated April 1, 2025, Waweru will serve in the position for three years, effective immediately.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 43 (1) (a) of the Tourism Act, as read together with section 51 (1) 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 the 1st April, 2025. The appointment of Irungu Nyakera is revoked,” the notice read.
Nyakera had assumed the role in August 2024, succeeding former Makueni deputy governor Adelina Mwau. However, his tenure was cut short following his decision to skip Ruto’s recent tour of the Mt Kenya region, a move that seemingly led to his removal.
Days before the visit, Nyakera announced that he would not attend the tour, citing his ongoing studies 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 stated.
Despite his absence, Nyakera urged the region’s leaders and residents to focus on development rather than politics during the President’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,” he emphasized.
Reflecting on past political events, he cautioned against actions that could hinder the region’s progress, referencing historical moments such as Jomo Kenyatta’s visit to Kisumu and the political dynamics during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s final term.
“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. Similarly, in President Uhuru’s final term, Mt Kenya suffered because we allowed politics to override cooperation and watched development bypass us. Let us not repeat the same mistakes. 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 remarked.
His removal from the KICC board signals the President’s firm stance on political loyalty and participation in government initiatives. The appointment of Samuel Waweru is expected to bring a new direction to the board, reinforcing the administration’s agenda.
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Irungu Nyakera Ousted as KICC Chair After Snubbing Ruto’s Mt Kenya Visit
