DAVID MUGONYI PROFILE
| AGE | N/A |
| GENDER | Male |
| OCCUPATION | Journalist, Communications Strategist |
David Mugonyi is a veteran journalist and a strategic communications expert. Currently, he serves as the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
He assumed office on January 15, 2024, after being appointed by the then ICT Cabinet Secretary, Eliud Owalo, with the appointment formalized through a letter dated December 19, 2023, following approval from the Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, Felix Koskei.
David Mugonyi Career
The CA Board of Directors, chaired by Mary Mungai, selected Mugonyi after a rigorous interview process involving 35 candidates, and Owalo instructed the board to proceed with formalizing the appointment.
Mugonyi has over 20 years of experience in leadership roles spanning public service, media, and strategic communications.
Prior to his appointment as the CA boss, Mugonyi served in various capacities, including leading strategic communications for the Government of Kenya for over a decade. He worked at the Office of the Deputy President from 2013 to 2022, when President William Ruto, during his term, was serving as Kenya’s Deputy President.
Mugonyi served as Ruto’s spokesperson and communications secretary in the Office of the Deputy President during this period. He later became the Head of the Presidential Communication Service after Ruto became President in September 2022.
Besides his service in the government, Mugonyi has had a stellar career in the media, starting as a reporter and rising through the ranks to senior editorial roles at Kenya’s leading media house, the Nation Media Group.
In recognition of his distinguished service to the nation, Mugonyi was honored with the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS) award by the fourth President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, in 2016.
He holds a master’s degree in international journalism from City University in the United Kingdom, a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nairobi, and a postgraduate diploma in Mass Communication from the same institution.
CA Director Orders Stoppage of Live Coverage of Protests
On June 25, 2025, the CA Director was at the center of media controversy after issuing a directive ordering all television and radio stations to halt live coverage of the Gen Z protests.
The directive cited Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Kenyan Constitution, as well as Section 46(1) of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, warning that non-compliance could lead to regulatory actions, including suspension or revocation of broadcasting licenses and the disabling of transmission signals. This resulted in the shutdown of signals for major stations like NTV, KTN, and Citizen TV after they defied the order.
The move was widely criticized as unconstitutional and a violation of press freedom, with the High Court later issuing orders for the immediate restoration of the signals.
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