Ex-ICT CS Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u Rejects Ruto's Job Offer

Former Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u has rejected President William Ruto's nomination as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Ghana.

The former CS had sent a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge which explained her decision to decline Ruto's offer.

Despite expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Nyambura cited personal and family obligations as her reasons for turning down the appointment.   

“I would like to give my appreciation for the invitation to appear before the departmental committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations on January 10, 2025. Pursuant to section 6(10) of the Public Appointment Parliamentary Approval Act No.3 of 2011, I wish to inform you that I would not appear before the said committee at the time and venue specified for approval hearing," the letter read.

"This has been compelled by my personal and family matters which matters taking into consideration would not allow me to take up the position as the High Commissioner to Ghana as nominated by President William Ruto."

Nyambura was scheduled to appear before the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. for her vetting but failed to attend.

On December 19, last year, Ndung'u was demoted as ICT CS after serving for only three months with William Kabogo named as her replacement.

After her demotion from the CS position, the Head of State nominated her for the high commissioner role alongside other former government officials.

President Ruto nominated her for the job alongside former Sports CS Ababu Namwamba who was nominated as permanent representative of Kenya to the United Nations Environment Programme.

Others nominated for various ambassadorial roles included Dorothy Angote, nominated for the High Commissioner job in Zimbabwe, and Andrew Karaja, nominated as Kenyan ambassador in Brazil. 

Nyambura's decision sees her join the likes of Hussein Tene Debasso who rejected President Ruto's appointment as a member of the National Youth Service Council, up to February 9, 2026, with effect from November 15, 2024. 

Debasso's rejection made him the fifth individual in four months to turn down an appointment by President Ruto. It all began when Roots Party Leader George Luchiri Wajackoyah’s 2022 presidential running mate Justina Wamae on Monday, July 8 turned down her appointment by President Ruto as part of a 20-member task force to address human resources for health in the country.

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President, Faith Odhiambo, declined her appointment to the Presidential task force which was to carry out a forensic audit of the country's public debt, with LSK terming the task force itself unconstitutional.

Earlier in October, former Machakos Town Member of Parliament Victor Munyaka announced that he had rejected an appointment by President Ruto as the Chairperson of the Kenya Animal Genetic Resource Centre for three years.

Former nominated senator Millicent Omanga declined an appointment to the Nairobi Rivers Commission where she was meant to be a member.