Nyakera clarifies absence from Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour linked to KICC job loss
Former Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) board chairperson Irungu Nyakera has addressed his departure from the role, which many believe was triggered by his absence during President William Ruto’s development tour of the Mt. Kenya region in March 2025.
Speaking during a live interview on Monday, June 2, 2025, Irungu reiterated his stance that his absence was occasioned by prior academic commitments he had overseas.
“That time I was in Oxford and it is the reason why I could not attend. I said I won’t make it for the president’s tour of Mt. Kenya,” he said.
He, however, further observed that he had no reason to attend the tour, which he says was politically motivated and not focused on securing developmental benefits for the region.
“On the other hand, I didn’t feel there was a need for me be there. Even if I were there, I would only either participate in the lies that were to be told to the people or lie myself. The issue is I said, Let us talk development and not politics. That was a political tour,” he clarified.
Irungu further recalled touring the Mt. Kenya region during the 2022 campaigns, where he led crucial grassroots engagements where important development issues with the locals took centre stage. He holds that having seen many of the promises remain unfulfilled two years down the line placed him in an awkward position.
“I was in a similar tour in Mt. Kenya and different counties, including my home county, Muranga. We made promises to people on developmental issues and asked people what their priorities were for the coming administration, which is the current one. We held town halls and engaged them on priorities. But I can tell you to date there is absolutely nothing that has been on those developmental proposals. I said the people would see me as a puppet,” he said.
The ouster saw Irungu assume a rather adversarial position against Ruto’s regime and its affordable housing projects, among others.
In a strange turn of events, then, the outspoken gentleman, however, resorted to a comical reaction to his dismissal.
He took to his X account on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, to share the Gazette notice that announced his sacking. He responded with sarcasm, noting that he felt special in the manner he was sent packing.
“I feel special to be fired through a special issue. They could not wait for Friday!” he quipped.
Just to drive the point home, he even updated his X account bio to ‘former KICC Chairman’.
