The Public Service Commission (PSC) has set a 14-day deadline for the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) board to respond to a petition demanding the removal of its acting managing director, Kipkemoi Kibias.

In a letter dated July 16 and addressed to Ketraco board chairman Mohamed Abdi, PSC Chief Executive Paul Famba warned that failure to respond within the stipulated timeframe would lead the commission to proceed with the matter independently.

Background of the Petition

The petition, submitted by Felix Willium Nandi, raises concerns about Mr. Kibias exceeding the six-month limit for acting appointments and continuing to receive allowances and per diems beyond this period. It also alleges that the acting CEO cancelled the initial recruitment advert for the substantive managing director position, contributing to delays and legal challenges.

Mr. Kibias has been acting managing director since September 19, 2025, following the dismissal of former MD John Mativo, who himself had replaced Fernandes Barasa after his resignation in 2022.

Recruitment Controversy

  • Ketraco initially advertised the managing director role with stringent requirements, prompting legal threats that led to a revised advert with relaxed criteria.
  • The first advert was withdrawn after a Nairobi law firm challenged the statutory qualifications set by the board, which exceeded those outlined in the Government-Owned Enterprises Act, 2025.
  • The revised advert dropped some of the contested conditions, including mandatory tax, debt, and integrity clearances.

Board Quorum and Legal Challenges

The PSC’s ultimatum comes amid ongoing difficulties at Ketraco, where the board is grappling with quorum issues after the Employment and Labour Relations Court barred three newly appointed members from serving pending a petition contesting their appointments.

The petitioners argue that the appointments coincided with the deadline for submitting applications for board positions, rendering the recruitment process invalid and effectively leaving Ketraco without a legally constituted board.

Implications for Leadership and Projects

The PSC is empowered under Section 77 of its 2020 regulations to investigate and determine complaints independently, a power it may invoke if Ketraco’s board fails to act. The petition calls for the removal of the acting CEO and appointment of a qualified substantive managing director as stipulated by law.

Ketraco is currently managing significant infrastructure projects, including five proposed high-voltage electricity initiatives valued at Sh65 billion, planned for development through public-private partnerships.