Communications Commission of Kenya director-general Charles Njoroge. Photo/FILE
Three new members have been appointed to the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) board of directors to replace those retiring in a move that might realign a board hostile to director-general Charles Njoroge.
The appointments came amid a growing rift between Mr Njoroge and the directors over his reappointment by Information minister Samuel Poghisio for a second three-year term.
The board had recommended a new appointment, saying Mr Njoroge had failed a performance appraisal.
Two of the three directors are Dr Monica Makau, a lecturer at Strathmore University, and Aloys Ang’asa, a former employee at the defunct Kenya Posts and Telecommunication Corporation.
The name of the third director could not be verified on Wednesday.
However, the announcements are expected to be made officially in a Kenya Gazette notice Thursday.
Information permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo said the appointments would reduce the tension that has existed in the CCK board for close to a month.
“We are lucky as this will defuse the tension and create a reconciliatory environment so that we can move forward to tackle serious pending issues within the sector,” said Dr Ndemo.
Blocked
The tenure of the current CCK board chairman, Mr Philip Okundi will expire in September while that of Ms Alice Munyua, a board member, comes to an end next month.
Mr Poghisio blocked an attempt to suspend Mr Njoroge from the telecommunications industry regulator over of alleged misconduct at a board meeting held last Tuesday, raising the question as to how he will work with a board that had opposed his re-appointment.
This came after Mr Poghisio dismissed the board’s recommendation that he sends Mr Njoroge on terminal leave to pave the way for the recruitment of a new director-general.
Mr Njoroge, 53, who has a Masters degree in Economics and a post-graduate certificate in Telecommunications Regulation, took over the leadership of CCK from Mr John Waweru on July 21, 2008.
He has worked with the CCK since March 1999 and has 28 years experience in the sector, having previously worked for the defunct Kenya Post and Telecommunication Corporation.
During his first three-year-tenure, CCK implemented several regulations it said were aimed at protecting consumers and tackling anti-competitive behaviour among the operators.
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