Francis Wangusi: Former CA Boss Famed For Media Blackout Dies
He was battling a long illness and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
admin
Former Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Director General Francis Wangusi passed away on Wednesday, March 1.
CA announced this in a social media update, noting that Wangusi had died while receiving treatment at the Nairobi Hospital.
He was battling a long illness and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
CA praised Wangusi for, among others, the transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting, even though he had to contend with opposition from private broadcasters.
The late former CA Director-General, Francis Wangusi. /FILE
‘’It is with profound sadness that we have received news on the passing on of former CA Director General Mr Francis Wangusi which occurred this afternoon at the Nairobi Hospital where he had been receiving treatment.’
"Mr Wangusi oversaw significant milestones in the ICT industry, including the transition to digital television broadcasting and the sector's exponential growth during his tenure from 2012 until his retirement on August 22, 2019. May his soul find rest in perfect peace.' "the CA tweeted.
"With a heavy heart, I am devastated to have to announce the death of my brother Francis Wangusi, the immediate former substantive Director General of CA. Mr Wangusi has been ailing.
"He had been admitted to the ICU at the Nairobi Hospital. God gives and takes. RIP," weighed in Stephen Mutoro, who is also the Consumers Federation of Kenya Secretary General.
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 Wangusi, who was hospitalized at Nairobi Hospital with low blood levels.
Wangusi left the CA in August 2019 at the end of his tenure, having been at the helm of the organization since 2012. He was first appointed to the role for a three-year period.
The following year, on December 11, 2013, Wangusi received a presidential decoration that gave him the Moran of the Burning Spear medal for his role in championing digital migration. This is despite surviving a court battle with private broadcasters to protect their heavy investments in equipment ahead of the digital switch.
Following his victory, digital migration was allowed to go on and a free-to-air signal distribution licence was given to the aggrieved private broadcasters. Riding on the successful migration that saw Kenya discard analogue broadcasting and joined the rest of the world in beaming TV and radio broadcasts via digital signals, Wangusi easily won a second three-year term amid a fierce challenge during the recruitment exercise that attracted 29 applicants.
In 2015, he was re-appointed to the position for a term of four years which marked a turbulent career for him in the communications industry.
In 2018, the board of the Communications Authority of Kenyan sent him on compulsory leave to pave way for investigations into what the board termed as malpractice in staff training and promotions at the State agency.
Interestingly, this is the same year the CA was in the spotlight for the infamous shutdown of three local TV stations Citizen TV, NTV, and KTN in the aftermath of the controversial swearing-in of former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, as the people's president.
Wangusi was replaced by Mercy Wanjau who until her appointment in an acting capacity, was the Director of Legal Services at the Authority and also served as the Board Secretary.
The Director-General's role has since been changed on multiple occasions, with Ezra Chiloba taking Wanjau's place and Chiloba's place taken by Mary Wambui Mungai.
Prior to joining the Communications Authority of Kenya, Wangusi had served in various capacities at the then Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK).
