Nairobi Water Appoints Martin Nangole Acting MD, Replacing Muguna

Nairobi, Kenya — September 26, 2025

The Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC) Board has named Martin Nangole as acting Managing Director, following the retirement of Nahashon Muguna. Muguna’s term extension was blocked by a High Court ruling, leading to the elevation of Nangole to steer the utility during the transition. 

The Latest

• The board confirmed that Nangole’s appointment takes immediate effect, describing it as a transitional measurewhile a competitive recruitment process is launched for the substantive MD position. 

• Board Chair Arnold Karanja said the acting role will cover oversight of strategic direction, day-to-day operations, and representation in stakeholder engagements. 

• Muguna’s extension beyond the mandatory retirement age was declared unlawful by a High Court, which held that the extension violated statutory limits and found no basis to justify exceptions. 

• The court also ordered Nairobi Water to commence a competitive recruitment process for a full MD to ensure smooth leadership continuity. 

Context & Institutional Framework

• Muguna had served as MD of Nairobi Water and Sewerage (NWSC), but Kenyan law enforces a mandatory retirement age, typically 60 years, for such public service positions. 

• Attempts to renew or extend tenures beyond retirement have been contested in courts, especially where no “rare skill” exception is demonstrated. 

• The High Court ruling emphasized that no evidence was presented showing Muguna’s skills were uniquely scarce or irreplaceable, thus invalidating the extension order. 

Implications & Risks

• Continuity & confidence: Nangole must maintain service delivery and reassure stakeholders during the leadership transition.

• Recruitment scrutiny: The process to appoint a substantive MD will attract high attention, with expectations of transparency and competence.

• Legal precedent: The court’s stance underscores limits on extending public office tenures beyond prescribed ages without lawful basis.

• Organizational morale: Staff and external partners will closely watch how the acting MD handles ongoing projects, especially critical water supply and infrastructure works.

What We Don’t Yet Know

• Whether the substantive MD recruitment will be open to internal and external candidates or limited to internal promotion.

• The timeline the board believes is realistic for completing the recruitment and having a permanent MD in place.

• Details on Nangole’s prior roles, track record, and whether he’ll receive a performance contract.

• How much authority Nangole will have over major capital and policy decisions during the acting period.

Timeline

• May 2025: High Court rules that extension of Muguna’s tenure beyond retirement age is illegal. 

• September 25–26, 2025: Board appoints Martin Nangole as Acting MD, following the court directive. 

What to Watch

• Public release of the full Board resolution and appointment letter for Nangole.

• Notifications from NWSC about substantive MD recruitment process, including terms, selection criteria, and timeline.

• Early decisions by Nangole in the acting role—especially concerning major contracts, infrastructure projects, and stakeholder engagements.

• Reactions from regulators, service customers, and civil society about the legitimacy and performance of the acting leadership.