The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) is facing a legal storm after a public interest petitioner moved to the High Court to block the renewal of the Board's tenure, citing "deliberate and unconstitutional ethnic imbalance."

In a bombshell petition, Benjamin Okumu alleges that the state corporation has been captured by a single ethnic community. Court documents reveal that 5 out of the 9 top executive positions—nearly 63%—are held by individuals from one tribe, a flagrant violation of the Constitution's requirement for diversity in public service.

The Purge Allegation

Okumu's affidavit paints a picture of a systematic purge. He claims that non-compliant managers were removed and replaced in a "restructuring" exercise orchestrated by the Board's Human Resource Committee, chaired by Mercylynate Chepkirui. The result, he argues, is a management team that looks more like a village council than a national entity.

"This is not just about numbers; it is about the capture of a strategic national asset," Okumu stated. "Panic measures and rushed financial decisions are now threatening the very grid that powers our nation."

• The Constitutional Breach: The petition cites violations of Article 232, which mandates that public appointments reflect the "face of Kenya."
• The Stakes: The court has been asked to issue conservatory orders stopping any reappointments until an independent audit by the Public Service Commission is conducted.

A Test for the Judiciary

As the case heads to the Constitutional and Human Rights Division, it puts the spotlight on the Ruto administration's promise of an inclusive government. For KETRACO, the legal battle could paralyze operations at a time when the country is already grappling with power instability.