Former police spokesman Charles Owino appointed KIMC chair.

President William Ruto has appointed former police spokesperson Charles Owino as the new Chairperson of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) Council.

In a gazette notice issued dated September 27, the President sacked former journalist Kathleen Openda who was appointed to the role in October 2021.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 (3) of the State Corporations Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Charles Owino Wahong’o to be the Chairperson of the Council to the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication, with effect from the 29th September, 2023 up to the 5th October, 2024,” read the notice. “The appointment of Kathleen Openda is revoked.”

According to the notice, Owino, a former Siaya gubernatorial aspirant, will however only serve in the position for one year, according to the notice. His appointment has dispelled rumours that he would be appointed to vacant position of government spokesperson.

In the 2022 elections. Owino commenced early campaigns for the Siaya Governor’s position, before later dropping out to become former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo’s running mate in the race. He would later abandon Gumbo’s ticket altogether to go back to his police job prompting Gumbo to pick former journalist David Ohito for the role.

Owino was recently appointed the UDA party Siaya County Coordinator to replace Dianga Waore who was appointed teh Chairman of the Lake Region Development Authority.