The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) has formally recalled its advertisement for the position of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
This decision, announced through the Government Advertising Agency, follows a swift legal challenge regarding the criteria set for the role.
The move comes after K.N Ndiang'ui & Co Advocates issued a protest letter to the board, alleging that the recruitment terms were unconstitutionally modified.
The firm argued that the board had introduced requirements not supported by the Government-Owned Enterprises Act, 2025.
At the heart of the dispute is a new demand for applicants to submit a current report from an approved credit reference bureau.
Legal representatives for the aggrieved parties claim this specific hurdle is not part of the statutory requirements for the position.
The cancellation occurred just days after the initial vacancy was published on April 21, 2026.
Interested candidates originally had until April 27 to submit their applications electronically before the process was abruptly suspended.
This latest development adds a layer of complexity to the leadership transition at the state corporation.
Ketraco is currently managed by John Mativo, who was appointed as Managing Director in 2023 for a three-year term.
The board has not provided a public explanation for the recall, but the timing aligns with the receipt of the legal protest.
Infrastructure sector observers note that such legal hurdles often delay the stabilization of leadership in critical energy parastatals.
The utility firm plays a central role in Kenya's high-voltage power transmission network and the integration of regional grids.
Earlier this year, the company faced separate legal scrutiny over claims regarding ethnic balance in its senior management.
While that previous case was dismissed in March due to legal flaws in the petition, it underscored the intense scrutiny surrounding the firm's human resource practices.
The current board, whose term is approaching its final stages, now faces the task of realigning the recruitment process with existing laws.
Failure to do so could lead to a full constitutional petition that might paralyze the executive suite for months.
It remains unclear when a new advertisement will be issued or if the requirements will be revised to meet the standards of the Government-Owned Enterprises Act.
For now, the recruitment portal for the top job remains closed to new applicants.
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