President William Ruto has appointed former Police Spokesperson Charlse Owino as the Chairperson of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC).
In a Gazette Notice dated Wednesday, September 27, Ruto revoked the appointment of Kathleen Openda in line with the powers provided in the State Corporations Act.
Owino’s appointment came months after he shifted allegiance to President Williiam Ruto’s government.
Soon after leaving the National Police Service, Owino ventured into politics and initially offered himself as a running mate in the Siaya gubernatorial seat ahead of the 2022 elections. ‘
However, he later withdrew from race and returned to National Police this time as the Director of the National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
After the 2022 polls, Owino joined a group of Nyanza leaders disgruntled with the running of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Owino ‘s new alliance with UDA
The leaders, among them former Siaya gubernatorial candidate forged a splinter a group and vowed to work with President William Ruto.
In March 2023, Owino was part of leaders who visited State House and vowed to work with the Kenya Kwanza government.
Also Read: Charles Owino: I Was Scammed During Uhuru-Era
Later in July 2023, Owino assumed the role of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party Coordinator in Siaya County.
His appointment to the position came on the back of his involvement in UDA activities alongside other Nyanza region politicians.
In his various public appearances, the former spokesperson became an ardent defender of Kenya Kwanza’s policies and was opposed to opposition political activities.
Kathleen Openda’s rise to the position
On her part, Openda- a former KTN journalist had been at the helm of KIMC since her appointment in 2021 under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime.
Prior to her appointment as the Chairperson, Openda was coming from working in the team that led former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s campaigns in 2017.
Also Read: Ruto Appoints Another Uhuru CS as Advisor
In addition, Openda is an alumnus of the Chevening Scholarship, a British government funded program which helps scholars from across the world opportunities to further their studies in the United Kingdom.
