President William Ruto has announced fresh changes in key parastatal leadership, appointing Charles Kamau Karondo as the new non-executive chairperson of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Board of Directors.
In a gazette notice dated August 8, 2025, President Ruto stated that Karondo will serve a three-year term, effective immediately. His appointment comes as the President revoked the tenure of businesswoman Mary Wambui Mungai, who has been at the helm of the CA board since 2022.
The changes also extended to the water sector, where Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa appointed Wambui as the non-executive chairperson of the Athi Water Works Development Agency Board, also for a three-year term. Wambui replaces Karondo, whose appointment to the agency was simultaneously revoked, resulting in what appears to be a direct swap of roles between the two appointees.
Wambui, a prominent businesswoman and considered a close political ally of President Ruto, has previously been linked to various state appointments and has often been at the centre of political and business discussions. Her move to Athi Water Works places her at the heart of a critical infrastructure agency tasked with implementing water supply projects in the Nairobi metropolitan region and surrounding counties.
Karondo, on the other hand, is known for his close association with Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, having served as his Personal Assistant. His elevation to the CA board places him in a strategic regulatory position overseeing Kenya’s telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal sectors at a time when the industry is experiencing rapid digital transformation.
The exchange of positions between the two appointees highlights the fluid nature of parastatal leadership under the current administration, where political loyalty and strategic positioning often influence high-profile appointments.
The Communications Authority will expect Karondo to steer policy direction and oversight in a fast-changing digital landscape, including spectrum management, internet penetration, and regulatory compliance. Meanwhile, Wambui’s new role will involve overseeing large-scale water infrastructure projects vital to urban development and the government’s promise of universal access to clean water.
The appointments signal President Ruto’s continued realignment of key agencies with trusted allies and operatives, ensuring that strategic state bodies remain under leadership aligned with his administration’s agenda.
