Wangusi: I’m ready to hand over office to lawful successor

Outgoing Communications Authority (CA) director-general Francis Wangusi has said he is ready to vacate office and hand over to a successor who is procedurally appointed.

In his affidavit filed in a case in which he wants to stop the recruitment of a new director-general, Wangusi argues that he has an obligation not to hand over the office in circumstances that violate the Constitution.

“I pray that soonest, a new CA Board will be constituted in full and strict compliance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution to enable me to hand over in a graceful and orderly manner,” says Wangusi.

The response comes days after the Employment and Labour Relations court reinstated him pending the hearing of the case.

Last week activist Okiya Omtatah moved to court seeking to stop acting director-general Mercy Wanjau from taking office.

Wanjau was appointed by the board after the expiry of Wangusi’s tenure on August 21.

Omtatah asked Justice Byrum Ongaya to suspend Wanjau’s appointment or any other person as acting DG.

However, Ongaya asked Omtatah to provide an affidavit to prove that Wangusi was ready to continue serving as DG before he gives out any orders.

New board

“It is against the public interest for the exiting DG to vacate office and hand it over to third parties unknown in law,” he said.

Further, Wangusi says in his court papers that he is willing to continue serving as DG if the court orders him until a properly constituted board is appointed to pick new director-general.

“CA does not have a Board of Directors to transact the business of the Board,” he says in the affidavit.

Wangusi argues that among the business the suspended board cannot transact is the appointment of an acting DG.