Stanley Kamanguya has had a sigh of relief after the Employment and Labour Relations Court stopped the newly appointed ICT Authority Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from taking office pending the determination of a petition filed by him.
In a ruling delivered on July 23, 2025, by Justice Nduma Nderi, certified Kamanguya’s application as urgent and issued a Conservatory Order restraining Zilpher Owiti from executing any functions reserved for the Chief Executive Officer.
“Conservatory Order is hereby issued staying the publication/invitation for applications made by the 1st Respondent named “Vacancy: Chief Executive Officer Job Ref: ICTA/001/2025” appearing on the website https://recruitment.icta.go.ke,” said the court.
The orders also temporarily bar the ICT Authority’s Board of Directors from processing or considering any applications received in response to the job advertisement, referenced as ICTA/001/2025.
Courts Stops Appointment of Newly Appointed CEO
Further, the court restrained the proposed interested party, Zilpher A. Owiti, from executing any functions designated for the CEO of the Authority. The judge also ordered the Authority to grant Kamanguya, the petitioner, full and unrestricted access to his office.
Also Read: ICT Authority Defies Court Order, Names New CEO
At the same time, the court issued a summons against the Chairperson of the Board of Directors — the second respondent in the case — to explain why she should not be held in contempt for allegedly violating earlier court orders dated June 24 and July 7, 2025.
“Summons is issued to the 2nd Respondent to show cause why she should not be punished for Contempt of the Orders of this Honourable Court issued on 24th June, 2025 and further orders issued on 7th July, 2025,” said the court.
Additionally, the Court directed all parties to respond to the application within 14 days of being served. The matter has been scheduled for an inter partes hearing on September 29, 2025.
Failure to comply with the court orders, the judge warned, would attract penal consequences.
The judge’s ruling comes days after Kamanguya filed a petition at the High Court challenging efforts to remove him from office.
Kabogo Denies President Ruto’s Involvement in Kamanguya’s Ouster
In his petition, Kamanguya argued that on March 6, 2025, the Board of Directors had approved and recommended his reappointment to the Cabinet Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy for a new term beginning August 8, 2025.
He further claimed that on March 10, 2025, the Cabinet Secretary formally reappointed him in line with the Board’s recommendation.
However, despite filing a petition at the High Court, the ICT authority announced changes to its Board of Directors.
The ICT Authority Board, in a notice dated July 1, 2025, announced that CEO Stanley Kamanguya has proceeded on terminal leave with immediate effect and appointed Zilpher Owiti to serve as the Acting CEO pending the advertisement and competitive recruitment of a substantive CEO.
Also Read: Kabogo Answers Gachagua on Ruto Targeting Mt. Kenya CEOs for Firing
The Court’s order also came days after ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo strongly refuted claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that President William Ruto ordered the dismissal of CEOs from the Mount Kenya region, specifically addressing the case of former ICT Authority CEO Stanley Kamanguya.
Speaking on July 22, 2025, Kabogo clarified that the decision to remove Kamanguya and make changes to the ICT Authority board was his own, made in accordance with the law and the Constitution, and not influenced by any directive from Ruto.
Gachagua had claimed that Ruto was on a mission to kick out powerful civil servants from the Mt. Kenya region.
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