Radio Africa Group’s Chief Operating Officer Agnes Kalekye Nguna has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
Nguna was among the appointments of CEOs announced by the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on May 17, 2024, to various state corporations.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo confirmed the appointment while announcing the immediate appointment of the former Radio Africa boss as the new Managing Director of KBC.
“The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, FIHRM, EGH has appointed Ms. Agnes Kalekye Nguna as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC),” said Owalo in a statement.
Announcing the appointment, Information and Communications Ministry noted that the appointment, which is effective immediately, will run for three years.
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“We wish Ms. Nguna well in her new role and the Ministry looks forward to her working closely with the Board of Directors in the revitalisation of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation as envisaged,” added the statement.
Kalekye Nguna
Prior to this appointment, Nguna was COO at The Star publications and also Chair of the Media Owners Association.
Nguna is an accomplished business Leader, with 15 years of experience and expertise in leading, managing, and overseeing company operations.
She has previously worked as General Manager, Commercial for Monitor Publications Limited (Kampala), Group Advertising Manager for Mwananchi Communications Ltd (Tanzania), and Group Regional Manager (Radio Africa Group).
Also, Kalekye was among nominees appointed by CS Owalo as a Working Group on Policy and Legislative Reforms for the Ministry of ICT.
The former Radio Africa boss rose to the KBC role after being among eight candidates shortlisted by the corporation for the position of managing director which was advertised by the State Corporation in a notice on February 13, 2024.
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“Pursuant to the provisions of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Act Cap 221 Section 5, the Corporation advertised the position of the Managing Director in the print media and on the Corporation’s website on 13th February 2024. The applications closed on 5th March 2024,” read part of the notice.
The shortlisted candidates included Abraham Muthogo Kamau from Nairobi, Tabitha Mutemi, OGW from Kitui, Christopher S. Khisa (PhD) from Bungoma and Peter Njigua from Vihiga.
Others were Jason K. Nyantino from Kisii, Peter O. Opondo from Kakamega and Sogoti James from Baringo, with the interviews being conducted on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
KBC Appointments
Nguna’s appointment came after CS Eliud Owalo terminated Samuel Maina’s appointment as acting KBC Managing Director in December 2023 which prompted the advertising of the vacant role.
“I duly appoint Paul Macharia, currently the Communication Economic Expert at the National Communications Secretariat which falls under the mandate of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy as the acting managing director with effect from December 19, 2023, for six months or upon the appointment of a substantive Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 34 of the Public Service Commission Act, No. 10 of 2017,” Owalo said.
According to CS Owalo, the embattled former MD allegedly committed the government to pay US$ 5 billion in LICA Arbitration No. 122233: Channel 2 Group Corporation versus Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.
The CS said that the transaction was done without seeking concurrence with the Ministry, the National Treasury the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice.
Also, Nguna’s appointment at KBC comes after President William Ruto appointed former Nation Media Group (NMG) Editor-in-Chief Tom Mshindi as the Chairman of the Corporation’s Board for a period of three years.
In a gazette notice published on January 19, 2024, Mshindi was appointed by Ruto to serve as the Chairman of KBC for a period of three years, while also revoking the appointment of Benjamin Maingi.
Kalekye’s appointment was among fresh CEO appointments made following a successful competitive recruitment process, and with the concurrence Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
Joseph Mungal Kamau was appointed as Athi Water Works Development Agency CEO, Abdallah Mohamed Hatimy as Managing Director Kenya National Shipping Line Limited and Dr. Philip Kiptanul Kirwa as Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital CEO.
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