How broad-based regime politics removed Nyakera from KICC board
By Alvin Mwangi, April 3, 2025The sacking of Irungu Nyakera as the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) was a matter of when not if.
In the recent past, Nyakera had turned into a critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration, calling out President William Ruto for forming the so-called broad-based government and leaving behind the Mt Kenya region.
In a gazette notice dated April 1, Ruto appointed Samuel Waweru Mwangi to take over the role for a three-year term.
“I 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,” reads the notice.
In response to his revocation, Nyakera posted on his Facebook page, saying, “I feel SPECIAL to be fired through a special issue. They could not wait for Friday.”
Nyakera’s revocation comes just days after he announced that he would not be attending President Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Nyakera noted that he would be engaged with schoolwork 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 said.
Despite his absence, Nyakera advised the Mt Kenya community to focus on development issues instead of engaging in politics.
“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 PS said, adding that political divisions could derail development efforts.
“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 prioritise the needs of our people,” he said.