President William Ruto has appointed Samuel Waweri Mwangi as the new Chairperson of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) Board of Directors. This appointment, which took effect on April 1, 2025, marks a significant shift in the leadership of one of Kenya’s most crucial facilities for tourism and business events. The decision comes under Section 43 (1) (a) of the Tourism Act and will see Mwangi serve a three-year term.
The appointment also sees the revocation of Irungu Nyakera’s tenure as KICC’s Board Chairperson. Nyakera, who was appointed to the role in 2024, had focused his efforts on positioning the convention center as a leading hub for conference tourism. His vision was aimed at enhancing KICC’s competitiveness in the global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) market. Nyakera had been working towards boosting KICC’s status as a top destination for business events, a growing subsector of global tourism.
During his time as Chairperson, Nyakera expressed a desire to increase Kenya’s standing in the global tourism industry, particularly by making KICC more competitive with regional convention centers in cities like Kigali and Cape Town. His leadership was part of a broader strategy to position Kenya as a premier destination for international conferences and business events, which are crucial to the country’s economy.
As Samuel Mwangi steps into the leadership role at KICC, all eyes will be on him to continue this momentum and further enhance KICC’s reputation and capacity to host large-scale business events. His appointment comes at a time when the tourism sector is recovering from the impacts of the global pandemic, and the demand for conference tourism continues to grow.
With the global MICE industry booming, Mwangi’s strategic direction will play a pivotal role in shaping KICC’s future, ensuring Kenya remains competitive in the rapidly evolving world of international business and tourism.
