Ruto Axes KICC Boss Nyakera for Skipping Hyped Mount Kenya Political Tour

• ''I feel special to be fired through a special issue, they could not wait for Friday,'' Nyakera stated.

• In the recent past, Nyakera has been a strong critic of several policies and actions of the Kenya Kwanza government

• He has been vocal about issues of corruption within the government, advocating for accountability and transparency in governance.

By Grace Makovu

NAIROBI, Kenya, Wednesday, March 2, 2025 – In what pundits say was long overdue, Irungu Nyakera, the recently appointed chairman of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), has been fired for declining to join President William Ruto on his hyped Mount Kenya region tour.

The appointment of former Principal Secretary (PS) Mr Nyakera, who had pledged to transform KICC into a premier tourism destination, was revoked by President Ruto and Samuel Waweru Mwangi was named as his replacement.

Taking to his social media shortly after the publishing of the notice, Nyakera, the former chairperson, sarcastically responded to the revocation of his appointment.

''I feel special to be fired through a special issue, they could not wait for Friday,'' Nyakera stated.

The President’s appointment is contained in a gazette notice published on Tuesday, April 1. Waweru will serve in the position for three years.

''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,'' read part of the notice.

Nyakera was appointed to the position by President Ruto for a three-year term, replacing Adelina Mwau, whose appointment was revoked.

Additionally, he expressed his dedication to collaborating with the KICC board of directors and assisting other cities in developing their conference tourism potential, contributing positively to Kenya's economic growth.

Nyakera previously served as the chairperson of the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA).

Then the President executed a sweeping reshuffle within his administration, marked by the appointment of former Narok Governor Samuel Tunai as the new chair of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) board.

This move, announced via a gazette notice on Friday, August 23, 2024, sent ripples through the political landscape, replacing former Transport PS Irungu Nyakera, whose appointment was abruptly revoked, pointing to Ruto’s determination to fortify his leadership with loyal allies.

Irungu Nyakera’s tenure at KEMSA was short-lived. He succeeded former Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau, who had taken up the position just over a year ago.

In the recent past, Nyakera has been a strong critic of several policies and actions of the Kenya Kwanza government, focusing primarily on issues such as economic management. He has pointed out concerns about the government's handling of the economy, particularly regarding inflation and rising living costs that have affected many Kenyans.

He has also focused on public service delivery where he has emphasized the need for better public service delivery, criticizing the government for perceived inefficiencies and failures in health, education, and infrastructure.

He has been vocal about issues of corruption within the government, advocating for accountability and transparency in governance.

Nyakera has expressed concerns about social inequality and the need for policies that support marginalized communities, arguing that the government has not sufficiently addressed these issues.

His critiques seem to arise from a broader concern for the welfare of Kenyans and the effective functioning of the government.