President William Ruto has terminated the appointment of Irungu Nyakera as the Chairman of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) board, effective April 1, 2025.
The gazette notice, signed by President Ruto, revoked Nyakera's appointment and named Samuel Waweru Mwangi as the new Chairperson of the KICC Board of Directors for a three-year term, starting April 1, 2025.
Reacting to his dismissal, Nyakera took to X with a lighthearted yet pointed remark, stating, "I feel SPECIAL to be fired through a SPECIAL ISSUE. They could not wait for Friday!,"
Referencing the fact that such gazette notices are typically published on Fridays. His post, quickly garnered attention, sparking a flurry of reactions from Kenyans online.
Nyakera's sacking comes amid a backdrop of political tension in the Mount Kenya region, particularly following his recent decision to skip President Ruto's highly anticipated five-day tour of the area, which began the same day the gazzette notice was issued.
Nyakera had cited prior commitments at Oxford University, where he is currently pursuing studies, as the reason for his absence.
In a statement two days prior to the start of the tour.
"I will not be present during the President's upcoming visit to Mt Kenya as I am still in school at Oxford University," read the statement in part.
He further emphasized the need for constructive engagement over political posturing, a move some interpreted as a subtle critique of the current administration's approach to the region.
"History has taught us harsh lessons. When Mzee Jomo Kenyatta visited Kisumu with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and was received with hostility, development in that region came to a halt for decades. Similarly, in President Uhuru's final term, Mt Kenya suffered because we allowed politics to override cooperation and watched development bypass us.
Let us not repeat the same mistakes. 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 prioritize the needs of our people," he said.
