Ruto Appoints Former Ndindi Nyoro PA to Head Communications Authority
President William Ruto has made changes at the helm of the Communications Authority (CA), appointing Charles Kamau Karondo, a former Personal Assistant (PA) to Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, as the new Chairperson of the CA Board.
The appointment, which takes effect immediately, was announced in a gazette notice issued on Friday, August 8, and will see Karondo serve a three-year term.
Karondo’s rise to this influential position marks another step in his political journey. He first became known as a student leader at Mount Kenya University (MKU) before working closely with Ndindi Nyoro.
Although it is unclear exactly when he served as Nyoro’s PA, his experience in that role appears to have strengthened his political connections.
He later joined President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) during the 2022 General Election period, where he played an active role as the party rose to power.
Shortly after Ruto’s victory, Karondo was appointed Chairperson of the Athi Water Works Agency in 2022, making him one of the youngest board leaders in the country.
His latest appointment as CA Board Chair comes at a time when Nyoro, his former boss, has been facing political challenges due to his criticism of Ruto’s leadership.
Karondo’s appointment also means the removal of Mary Wambui Mungai, widely known as “Wambui wa Ruto,” from the position. The gazette notice stated:
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6(1)(a) of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, as read together with section 51(1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Charles Kamau Karondo to be the non-executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Communications Authority for three (3) years. The appointment of Mary Wambui Mungai is revoked.”
Mary Wambui, a billionaire businesswoman and long-time supporter of Ruto, had been a key political ally during his 2022 presidential campaign. She took over from Gilbert Kibe as CA Board Chair in December 2022 following his retirement.
However, her appointment was controversial, coming at a time when she was battling an ongoing court case.
Wambui had been arrested and charged with tax evasion amounting to Ksh2.2 billion, with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) accusing her company of failing to declare income between 2014 and 2019.
Her appointment was challenged in court by an activist who sought to block her from assuming the role due to the case.
In January 2023, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped the charges, clearing her of the eight counts of unlawfully omitting income tax returns. Despite the legal clearance, the controversy surrounding her tenure never fully went away.
As the new CA Board Chair, Karondo will now be responsible for overseeing critical operations in Kenya’s communication sector.
His duties will include licensing communication systems and services, leading the development and management of the national cybersecurity framework, and supporting the growth of e-commerce in the country.
The role also places him at the center of key policy and regulatory decisions shaping Kenya’s digital future.
If you’d like, I can also expand this further to add political context on what the replacement might mean for Ruto’s inner circle and the political undercurrents around Nyoro’s opposition. That could make the piece even richer for your audience.
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