A fallout has shaken the ICT Authority board, exposing behind-the-scene intrigues that allegedly led to the appointment of a new chief executive officer.
At the centre of the dispute that has split the board of directors is the last-minute move at the height of the transition by outgoing Cabinet secretary Joe Mucheru to remove the acting CEO and install a new one.
In the August 8 appointment, through a Gazette notice, Mucheru picked Stanley Kamanguya to replace Paul Rono, who has been holding the position in an acting capacity for more than a year.
In the letters seen by the Star, Kamanguya who was part of board was appointed and a Gazette Notice validated to comply with it.
The officer initially worked as the director of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (Ifmis) at the National Treasury.
In March last year, the National Assembly’s PAC chaired by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi had accused the Treasury of filling the position without involving the Public Service Commission as prescribed by law.
While Mucheru’s term and that of other Cabinet secretaries ends upon the appointment of new ones, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua barred them from making any appointments.
“Cabinet secretaries shall not cause any appointments of members of board management of state corporations or state agencies...as authorised officers, they cannot cause and/or effect any ministerial redeployment or any new appointments in any ranks within ministries and state departments,” his circular read.
The Authority’s board of directors consists of 14 members — six directors, Fahmo Mohammed, Jerotich Sirma, Stephen Maina, Veronica Thiga, John Kipchumba and Beatrice Okoth.
It also has representatives — Edna Atisa (National Treasury), Andrew Nyamwamu (ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs) and John Njogu (Lands and Physical planning).
Fredrick Owino is the chairman of the board while Pauline Kimotho is the corporation secretary.
Also on the board is James Wangombe, a representative from the Inspectorate of State Corporations.
In the battle that has split the two groups — one controlled by Fahmo Mohammed and the other by Owino — the staff were informed of the changes through a letter dated September 15.
“We extend our gratitude to Dr Rono for his exemplary service for steering the authority and on behalf of the management and staff, we wish him well,” reads the letter in part signed by Mohammed on behalf of the directors.
If further states, “In line with our value of community, we request your support and cooperation with Mr Kamanguya as he leads the authority in delivering its mandate.”
On August 23, Uzalendo Institute of leadership and democracy filed a petition at the Employment and Labour Relations Court where conservatory orders were issued restraining the appointment.
The Authority’s board chairman (Owino) and Attorney General (Paul Kihara) were named as respondents.
A ruling over the matter is o be made on October 27.
In defiance of the new court order, a group of directors allegedly facilitated Kamanguya to take over the office at their Teleposta Towers.
Last week, Owino who said the acting CEO should stay on pending the final court ruling.
He sent an email to the board members informing them of the developments at their office.
“The authority is undergoing a period of suspense and threat to service delivery at the management level arising from decisions taken at a special board meeting on September 15,” read the email seen by the Star.
During the board meeting, which Owino skipped, Mohammed invited Kamanguya to report to work on September 16 and assume his new role.
On that day, Kamanguya is said to have stormed into the office.
“Realizing that the letter from the CS of August 28 on the appointment of Kamanguya had also terminated the appointment of acting CEO, I wrote to the CS, head of public service and others,” Owino said in the letter.
“I pointed out that this exposed ICTA to threats since I could not act on the CEO position, under the circumstance I asked Rono to continue acting in the period of government transition,” he added.
