Communication Secretary at State House David Mugonyi has been appointed Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
Mugonyi who was named Head of Presidential Communication Service (PCS) early this year replaces Ezra Chiloba.
“Reference is made to the above and a letter from the Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service (Ref: SH/GM/ 22) dated 19th December, 2023 (enclosed) conveying approval for the appointment of Mr. David Mugonyi as the Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya,” said ICT CS Eliud Owalo in a statement.
Chiloba resigned in October in a letter addressed to the chair of the board, Mary Wambui.
“…the board has this morning, 19th October 2023, accepted the resignation of Mr. Ezra Chiloba as the Director General,” said Ms Wambui.
“Mr. Chiloba resigned yesterday, 18 October 2023, in a letter to the Chairperson of the CA Board, Ms Mary Mungai.”
Read: Ezra Chiloba Resigns As Communications Authority Boss
“On behalf of the Authority, I wish the outgoing Director General success in his future endeavors and appreciate his invaluable contribution to the organization and the wider ICT sector.”
Chiloba served as the CA Director General for two years, having been appointed in October 2021.
Chiloba was suspended over alleged abuse of the authority’s mortgage scheme.
A report of a ninth special Board Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (Barac) meeting held on August 8, 2023, indicates that Chiloba alongside nine others “fundamentally breached their obligations arising under the contract of service”.
Chiloba was accused of applying for and self-approving a mortgage loan without exercising due process.
The loan was to reportedly facilitate the purchase of a property between Chiloba and another individual.
He is also said to have purchased a house and acquired seven acres of land beyond the allowed one-acre limit under the Civil Servants Housing Scheme requirement.
On matters regarding the loan application process, the authority says no due diligence was exercised leading to the omitting of relevant information.
“The loan application was approved by a junior staff member and there is no evidence to support that fact that the junior staff member carried out requisite due diligence and advice management including but not limited to the relationship between the seller and the buyer and the size of the property,” read the report.
Questions were raised after it was noted that the authority remitted money to a bank account held by Chiloba under the company name Kitale Hilmost Ltd. who was also posed as the buyer.
“Further interrogation to confirm the identity of the seller vide a query through the Companies
Registry revealed the sole director and shareholder of Kitale Hilmost Ltd as Ezra Chiloba Simiyu, who is also the buyer. These actions amount to an offense in accordance with Section 41 and 42 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act,” it read.
Chiloba was also accused of misconduct while in office.
“Being that the Director General is the Accounting Officer for the Authority, the conduct and integrity of the office holder when viewed against the provisions of Sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Leadership and Integrity Act is found to be in contravention of the same and in breach of the Code of Ethics which amounts to misconduct for which he may be subjected to disciplinary proceedings as per Section 45 of the Employment Act 2007.”
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