This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
On October 15, 2019, a surprise move by Mining and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary John Munyes left employees and stakeholders of National Oil Corporation of Kenya (Nock) puzzled. In a letter, Munyes appointed George Kubai as the Acting CEO, replacing James Nyamongo, who had been appointed just five days earlier.
Nyamongo's appointment was made by Nock's board after the resignation of MaryJane Mwangi at the beginning of the month. However, Munyes overruled the decision, citing his capacity as the Cabinet Secretary for Petroleum and Mining.
The corporate turmoil at Nock has raised questions about competing political interests and corporate intrigues within the Ministry of Petroleum. Sources have hinted at 'warring factions' within the ministry, which may be contributing to the confusion at Nock and other State agencies under the ministry's purview.
The uncertainty at Nock has left the company's MD's office vacant, with staff expressing puzzlement over the sudden changes. The situation has also sparked speculation about the role of the Ministry of Petroleum in the corporate intrigues at Nock.
In a related development, Hudson Andambi, the acting CEO of Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC), could not confirm whether Nyamongo was back at the agency's offices, citing that the decision had been made at another level.
