ICT Authority Board defies court order, fires CEO Stanley Kamanguya

The decision, made during a Board meeting held on July 1, 2025, comes amid a pending High Court petition filed by Kamanguya challenging efforts to remove him from office.

In a letter to Kamanguya, the Board outlined several reasons for nullifying the resolution passed on March 6, 2025, which had recommended his reappointment for a new term starting August 8, 2025.

According to the Board, Kamanguya's application for renewal, dated February 6, 2025, was only received by the then Chairperson, Mr. Sylvanus Maritim, on March 4, 2025—well past the six-month deadline set by public service guidelines. These include circulars issued by the Head of Public Service on November 23, 2010, and June 29, 2011.

Additionally, the Board claimed the March 6 meeting where the renewal was approved was unlawfully reconvened without proper notice after it had already been adjourned. The reappointment process, the Board argues, was also flawed because Kamanguya himself prepared the board paper for his renewal instead of a special committee conducting a performance evaluation as required under the Mwongozo Code and relevant circulars.

The resolutions confirming his reappointment, the Board adds, were “hurriedly extracted and illegally signed” by a sessional chairperson, further undermining the integrity of the process.

“In light of these patent irregularities, the Board has resolved to vacate the minutes of the meeting held on March 6, 2025. Consequently, your reappointment as CEO of the ICT Authority has been revoked,” the letter states.

The Board directed Kamanguya to proceed on terminal leave with immediate effect, ahead of the expiration of his current term on August 7, 2025. A competitive recruitment process for the next CEO is set to begin, and Kamanguya has been informed he is eligible to apply.

The High Court had earlier on Tuesday issued temporary orders stopping the Board from discussing or acting on Kamanguya’s reappointment until a petition he filed is heard and determined. Justice Nduma Nderi certified the case as urgent, setting an inter partes hearing for July 7, 2025.

In his petition, Kamanguya argues that his reappointment was lawful and had already been endorsed by the Cabinet Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy. He claims the Board's attempts to reverse the process amount to interference and breach of due process.