Intrigues as ICT Authority Board defies court, fires CEO Stanley Kamanguya
The board issued a statement to announce that he had gone on terminal leave with immediate effect and appointed Zilpher Owiti as the Acting CEO
Intrigues have rocked the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Authority Board fired Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stanley Kamanguya despite a High Court order barring it from discussing his reappointment pending the hearing and determination of a petition he has filed.
Justice Nduma Nderi, who issued the temporary injunction, certified the matter as urgent and directed that the petition be served and responded to within five days and scheduled an inter partes hearing for July 7.
Kamanguya had moved to court to block the board from discussing the issue of his reappointment on March 6, which was effected by ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo on March 10 as the matter is pending in court after two petitioners challenged the decision. The new contract was to commence on August 8.
Victor Okoth and Brian Hori filed the petition last month, terming his reappointment procedurally flawed.
“It is only fair, lawful, and in the interest of justice that the application be allowed,” he said in his petition, noting that the board had scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday at 9 am to discuss his fate.
Despite the court’s intervention, however, the ICT Authority board issued a statement to announce that he had gone on terminal leave with immediate effect and appointed Zilpher Owiti as the Acting CEO pending the advertisement and competitive recruitment one a substantive CEO.
Mrs Owiti is currently the Director of Partnerships, Innovation and Capacity at the Authority.
“The board remains committed to ensuring a seamless transition and to maintaining the stability and performance of the Authority as it continues to deliver on its critical mandate in Kenya’s digital transformation journey,” board chairman Sylvanus Maritim said.
A holder of a BSc in Computer Science from Maseno University and an MBA from the United States International University – Africa, Kamanguya was appointed CEO of the Authority in October 2022.
He was previously the Director, Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) at the National Treasury.
