Former Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Francis Wangusi has passed away after a long illness.
The news was first revealed by Stephen Mutoro, the Secretary General of COFEK.
Starting out as a young engineer in the now-defunct Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC), he embarked on his professional journey. He gradually rose through the ranks, eventually reaching the position of fifth Director General of the CA in 2012. After serving the sector for more than three decades, he retired in 2019.
His tenure at the helm of CA oversaw remarkable advances in the ICT sector, paving the way for the notable growth currently witnessed. He is recognized for spearheading the transition from analog to digital television broadcasting, positioning Kenya as one of the first African countries to embrace this new frontier and revolutionizing the broadcasting industry.
Thanks to his leadership, Kenya gained recognition as a leader in the ICT space, receiving global acclaim for its groundbreaking ICT innovations. As a result of his leadership, Kenyans now enjoy the benefits brought about by ICT services.
At the end of January 2023, a request was made to the general public to donate blood. The message, which was sent by Walter Bulimu, the senior pastor of Friends Church Quakers, urged church members to donate blood for Mr. Francis Wangusi, who was hospitalized at Nairobi Hospital with low blood levels.
In the last couple of months, the CA has undergone some leadership changes. The organization received a new Director General, Ezra Chiloba, over a year ago, replacing Mercy Wanjau, who was in an interim position.
Mercy had taken over from Francis Wangusi.
The CA now has a new Board Chairman, Mary Wambui Mungai who took over from Gilbert Kibe. Kibe had only served for a few months before his departure.
The CA further did some Board shakeup following the appointment of new members.
These new members are Bhoke Christine Nchama, Esther Njoki Njoroge, Mgeni Mboto Hassan, Joel Nyambane Okengo, Eric Langat, Alex Wafula Wamalwa, and Nicholas Kamuya Ng’arua.
May he rest in peace!
Update: Statement from The CA DG Ezra Chiloba
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has received the news of the demise of Mr. Francis Wangusi, MBS, the former Director General of the Authority with profound shock and sadness.
On behalf of the Board, Management and Staff, I would like to express our sincere condolences to Mr. Wangusi’s family, relatives, and friends at this difficult time of grief.
For Mr. Wangusi, CA was home. He began his professional journey as a young engineer at the now defunct Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC), and, rose through the ranks to become the fifth Director General of the CA in 2012 until his retirement in 2019.
He served the sector with great distinction for over 30 years. During his tenure at the helm of CA, he presided over significant strides in the ICT sector, and priming it for the exponential growth witnessed today.
He is credited for spearheading the transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting, making Kenya among the first countries in Africa to embrace this new frontier, opening the broadcasting industry in profound ways.
Under his watch, Kenya became a respected leader in the ICT space commanding global acclaim as home to ground-breaking ICT innovations. Courtesy of his astute leadership, Kenyans now enjoy the ubiquitous benefits brought about by ICT services.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mr. Wangusi for his incredible contribution to the ICT industry, a foundation upon which we continue to build going into the future. As we commiserate with his family, we pray for comfort and strength to overcome this loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Ezra Chiloba DIRECTOR GENERAL/CEO
