The Employment and Labour relations Court has nullified the appointment of Mercy Wanjau as the new Director General of the Communications Authority. Furthermore, Judge Byram Ongaya has directed that Francis Wangusi should remain as the CA Director General until a proper board is constituted.
In the Friday ruling, the judge also nullified the appointment of 13 members to the board, adding that the ICT Cabinet Secretary can’t handpick a suitable candidate for the DG position. He said President Uhuru Kenyatta should exercise his power under the State Corporation Act with a view of extending Wangusi’s tenure until a board is in place.
The DG’s term had expired in August, but the appointment of Mercy Wanjau as his replacement drew considerable opposition, with Wangusi refusing to make way. Through a petition filed by the Consumers Federation of Kenya, it was argued that the CA board had irregularly appointed a new Director General. The Court suspended the appointment of his successor. The Communications Authority, however, had insisted that Wangusi’s shift from office was done legally as his tenure had ended.