The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on Monday announced the appointment of Ms. Mueni Mutunga as its new Acting Director-General as a court case challenging the renewal of the incumbent Dr. Pavel Oimeke’s term awaits hearing and determination.
In a statement, EPRA’s board of directors stated that the new appointee’s term will take effect on August 17, 2020.
Ms. Mutunga is the Secretary and Director of Legal Affairs at the authority. She is vastly experienced in the legal field having worked in the sector for twenty years.
She began her career at Robson & Co. Advocates and later served as a legal officer at Total Kenya Limited. Prior to joining EPRA, she was the Secretary and Head of Legal Affairs at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
Ms Mutunga holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Law Degree from The University of Nairobi (UoN). She also holds a Diploma in Legal Practice from The Kenya School of Law. She is also a member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Sectetaries.
“The board’s choice of Ms Mutunga for this role is based on her seniority in the service and upon a duly approved succession plan,” the board said in the statement.
Dr Oimeke’s Term Extension
The Employment and Labour Relations Court last week blocked the renewal of Dr Oimeke’s term after Emmanuel Wanjala, a Kenyan citizen moved to court to stop EPRA’s board from deliberating on the former’s reappointment.
In his petition through Lawyer Henry Kurauka, Mr Wanjala alleged that Dr. Oimeke had presided over massive losses at EPRA through corruption, mismanagement of resources and lawsuits by the authority’s former employees.
Mr. Wanjala argued that the taxpayer has lost billions of shillings, which cannot be recovered and should his tenure be extended.
“It is imperative that pending the hearing and determination of this application and the petition, the respondents be restrained from deliberating, extending and or renewing the contract of the first respondent,” ruled Justice Hellen Wasilwa.
