Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has revoked the appointment of George Wanga, husband to Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, as the chair of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) with immediate effect.
The revocation was confirmed through a gazette notice and will see Wanga replaced by former Mandera South Member of Parliament Adan Haji Ali.
Wanga had been appointed to the role in January 2025 as part of a round of government appointments by the President. His appointment came at a time when former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had become Ruto’s ally, entering the broad-based government.
At the time, Wanga’s appointment triggered the revocation of Jackton Boma Ojwang’s appointment in the same capacity.
EPRA is a crucial government agency responsible for the economic and technical regulation of the energy and petroleum sectors in Kenya, including licensing, tariffs, and environmental regulations.
As the Board Chairperson, Wanga’s role was to facilitate effective corporate governance, strategy, oversight, and policy direction to enable EPRA to fulfil its statutory mandate.
His profile on EPRA’s website (before recent changes) highlighted his wealth of experience spanning over two decades in senior leadership and entrepreneurial roles across public, private, and financial services sectors, with expertise in strategic leadership, governance, and risk management.
Aside from his professional experience, he holds an MBA in Operations Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, both from the University of Nairobi.
Ali will serve in the position for a period of three years. He was the Mandera South MP from 2017 to 2022.
He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Mandera South Constituency, serving from August 31, 2017, on a Jubilee Party ticket. He attempted to vie for another term in the 2022 elections but fell short and was succeeded by Abdul Haro Kore.
Before entering elective politics, Adan Haji Ali had a career in various managerial capacities. He worked for Baobab Beach Resort as a General Manager from 1994 to 2013. He also gained international experience, having worked in Austria, Italy, Turkey, and Tunisia.
He later transitioned to county government service, serving as the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Tourism, Innovations, and ICT in the Kwale County Government from 2013 to 2017.
However, in February 2024, reports emerged that Haji was wanted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over an alleged Ksh51 million graft case. The charges relate to his tenure as a CEC Member for Tourism in Kwale County.
He was accused of corrupt dealings, including not disclosing a private interest in a hotel facility whose directors included his wife and son, who traded with the Kwale County Government, allegedly at exaggerated costs for accommodation and conference services.
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