President William Ruto has appointed the controversial Purma Holdings Limited Director Mary Wambui as the new Chairperson to the Communications Authority’s board.

Ruto appointed Wambui on Tuesday to serve in that capacity for a period of three years.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6 (1) (a) of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, I William Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya appoint Mary Wambui Mungai to be the Chairperson of the Board of Communications Authority of Kenya, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 2nd December 2022," the statement read in part.

Wambui replaces Gilbert Kibe whose appointment Ruto has revoked after serving as the board’s chairperson for less than a year since former President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him in May 2022,

Wambui’s appointment comes moments after Kibe had tendered his resignation letter citing personal interests.

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"I hereby tender my resignation as Chairman of the Board of Communications Authority of Kenya with effect from December 1, 2022, due to personal interests," Kibe’s letter read.

In her new role as the CA board chairperson, Wambui will oversee the operations of the authority.

Wambui hit the local headlines in December last year when she and another director were being sought over a Sh2.2 billion tax evasion case.

The duo was charged with eight counts of knowingly and unlawfully omitting taxes due in the income tax returns submitted to the Commissioner for 2014-2016 Domestic Taxes.