President William Ruto has revoked the appointment of Irungu Nyakera as chairperson of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) Board and replaced him with Samuel Waweru Mwangi.
According to a special gazette notice dated April 1, 2025, Mwangi will serve a three-year term.
“I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, appoints Samuel Waweru Mwangi to be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, for a period of three years, with effect from the April 1, 2025,” read the notice in part.
It adds: “The appointment of Irungu Nyakera is revoked.”
While reacting to his dismissal Nyakera expressed dismay over the urgency with which the change was effected. “I feel special to be fired through a special issue (of the Kenya Gazette). They could not wait for Friday,” he wrote on X.
Nyakera was appointed to the post seven months ago with a promise to transform KICC into a premier hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, rivaling destinations such as Kigali in Rwanda and Cape Town in South Africa.
His dismissal coincides with President Ruto’s tour of the Mount Kenya region, which Nyakera reportedly skipped.
The former principal secretary, who is believed to be eyeing the Murang’a governor seat, had earlier cautioned against using Ruto’s visit for early political campaigns, urging residents to focus on development instead.
Nyakera previously served as Principal Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure and later for Devolution and Planning under President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In May 2023, Ruto appointed him chairperson of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) amid corruption scandals at the agency. However, that appointment was revoked in August 2023.
