A storm is raging at the heart of Kenya’s energy sector after the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) abruptly cancelled its high-stakes recruitment for a substantive Managing Director and CEO, fueling explosive claims that the process had been tailored from the outset to favour acting boss Kipkemoi Kibias.
The sudden U-turn, announced in a brief notice on April 23, 2026, came just days after a Nairobi law firm threatened court action, citing what it described as a deeply flawed and illegal recruitment process.
But while the advert is gone, the questions it has raised are only getting louder.
KETRACO Recruitment Process That Collapsed Overnight
KETRACO had advertised the top job on April 7, positioning it as a routine public sector hiring process. Less than three weeks later, the entire exercise was scrapped—without explanation.
Insiders say the board’s rapid retreat is telling.
“Boards don’t just cancel CEO recruitments overnight unless there’s a serious problem,” said an energy sector analyst familiar with the developments. “This looks less like a mistake and more like a plan that got exposed.”
At the centre of the controversy is whether the recruitment was ever genuinely open—or whether it was structured to formalise the appointment of Kipkemoi Kibias, who has been serving in an acting capacity since September 2025.
The “Rigged Criteria” Allegations
The now-cancelled advert has drawn intense scrutiny for allegedly introducing qualification requirements that go beyond what Kenyan law provides.
Legal experts point to the Government-Owned Enterprises Act 2025, which sets clear minimum qualifications for CEOs of state corporations: a relevant degree, at least 10 years’ experience, five years in senior management, and compliance with integrity standards.
However, the KETRACO advert reportedly went further—demanding a Master’s degree and introducing additional experience thresholds.
More controversially, it required candidates to present a Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) clearance, a condition not provided for in law.
Critics argue that such requirements can act as silent filters.
“In Kenya’s economic climate, CRB listings are common—even among highly qualified professionals,” said one governance expert. “Introducing that requirement is an effective way to lock out competition without naming names.”
The suspicion among insiders is that these criteria could have narrowed the field in a way that advantaged an insider candidate—namely Kipkemoi Kibias.
The 20-Day Window That Triggered Alarm
The controversy did not end with the qualifications.
The advert ran for 20 days, falling short of the 21-day minimum required under public service hiring guidelines. That single day difference has now become a critical legal fault line.
Within days, a Nairobi law firm issued a formal demand letter to KETRACO’s board, warning that the entire process was unlawful and threatening immediate court action.
The board folded almost instantly—cancelling the advert before the deadline for legal action even expired.
For many observers, that quick capitulation speaks volumes.
“If they believed the process was clean, they would have defended it,” said a Nairobi-based lawyer. “Instead, they pulled it down immediately.”
The Man at the Centre: Kibias
While no official wrongdoing has been established against Kipkemoi Kibias, his position at the centre of the controversy is unavoidable.
A long-serving KETRACO insider, Kibias rose through the ranks to become General Manager for System Operations before being appointed acting CEO following the abrupt exit of former boss John Mativo.
He has held the acting role for over seven months—a period critics say should have been sufficient for a clean and transparent recruitment process.
Instead, what emerged was a flawed advert that lasted barely two weeks before being scrapped.
That sequence of events has fueled claims that the process may have been engineered to legitimise a predetermined outcome.
A Board Under Pressure
The scandal has placed the KETRACO board, chaired by Mohamed M Abdi, under intense scrutiny.
This is not the first time the company has faced governance questions. Previous disputes over board appointments and internal management decisions have already drawn legal challenges and public criticism.
Now, the CEO recruitment saga threatens to deepen concerns about transparency, accountability, and compliance within one of Kenya’s most strategic state corporations.
KETRACO plays a central role in the country’s electricity infrastructure, managing high-value transmission projects that directly impact economic growth and energy access.
What Happens Next?
With the advert cancelled, attention now shifts to what comes next.
KETRACO is expected to re-advertise the CEO position—but under significantly increased scrutiny from legal experts, policymakers, and the public.
Any repeat of the earlier irregularities could trigger immediate court action.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the Ministry of Energy and other oversight bodies to ensure the next process is fully compliant with the law and free from manipulation.
Bigger Than One Job
Beyond the immediate controversy, the scandal has reignited a broader debate about governance in state corporations.
The Government-Owned Enterprises Act 2025 was introduced to curb exactly this kind of alleged manipulation—where boards quietly shape recruitment processes to favour preferred candidates.
If the allegations around KETRACO prove accurate, critics warn it could signal that old habits persist despite new laws.
A Cloud That Won’t Lift Easily
For Kipkemoi Kibias, the stakes are particularly high.
Even if he eventually secures the substantive CEO role, the controversy surrounding this aborted recruitment could cast a long shadow over his tenure.
Because in public institutions, perception matters as much as process.
And right now, the perception is clear—and deeply troubling:
That Kenya’s most critical energy infrastructure company may have tried to stage-manage its own leadership transition.
Whether that perception proves justified will depend on what happens next.
But one thing is certain—the next move by KETRACO will not go unnoticed.
