The East Africa Portland Cement Company PLC (EAPC) has stated in court that President William Ruto has no authority to appoint or confirm the company’s Managing Director, as he is not a member of its Board of Directors.
In response to a petition filed by lawyer Apollo Mboya—who is challenging EAPC Board Chairman Brigadier (Rtd.) Richard Mbithi—the company argued that a presidential press release issued on December 20, 2024, erroneously named Bruno Oguda Obodha as the new Managing Director.
According to EAPC, any such appointment by the President amounts to an unlawful overreach into the exclusive powers of the Board. The company secretary emphasized that the position of Managing Director can only be filled by the Board, making Ruto’s move irregular and illegal.
Representing the company in court, Head of Legal Services Roselyne Ominde added that Obodha scored only 64% during the selection process—below the mandatory pass mark of 70%. Moreover, he allegedly failed to disclose conflicts of interest with the company.
Only one candidate, Mohamed Osman Adan, reportedly met the required threshold and was formally appointed as Managing Director on February 12, 2025. He has served in the role since then.
In contrast, Mboya’s petition—filed at the Milimani High Court—accuses Chairman Mbithi of ignoring the President’s directive and attempting to install a different individual. Mboya is seeking a court order to affirm Obodha’s appointment, citing the President’s December 2024 announcement.
